The Messages That Came From Inside the House: The Lauryn Licari Case

For more than a year, a teenage girl in Michigan was harassed with anonymous texts filled with insults, threats, and sexually explicit language.

Investigators eventually traced the messages. The sender was living in her own home.

Illustrated rendering of Lauryn Licari created from publicly available documentary footage and photographs related to the case. This image is an artist’s sketch and not the original photograph.

A Relationship That Drew Attention

In 2020, Lauryn Licari was a 13-year-old middle school student in the Beal City, Michigan area. She had begun dating a boy from school, Owen McKenny, also a teenager.

According to multiple later accounts from Owen and his family, Lauryn’s mother, Kendra Licari, became deeply involved in the relationship from the beginning. She communicated frequently with Owen, inserted herself into their interactions, and treated the relationship as unusually serious for two young teenagers.

Some reports describe her reading messages between them and involving herself in their communication in ways that made Owen’s family uncomfortable.

At the time, however, nothing about that behavior appeared criminal.

Illustrated rendering of Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenny created from publicly available photographs related to the case. This image is an artist’s sketch and not the original photograph.

The First Messages

In October 2020, Lauryn began receiving anonymous text messages.

The messages quickly escalated. They included:

• personal insults

• sexual rumors

• threats

• explicit language about her body and sexual activity

• accusations that she was cheating

• messages meant to humiliate her in front of classmates

The sender also contacted Owen and other students.

Some of the messages used graphic sexual insults and profanity directed at Lauryn, attempting to damage her reputation among peers. Investigators later said thousands of messages were sent over the course of the harassment.

Suspicion Turns Toward Another Student

As the messages spread, suspicion focused on people inside the school.

At one point, attention turned toward a female classmate who was believed by several people to be jealous of Lauryn’s relationship with Owen. Adults and students began to believe this girl might be responsible.

The suspicion affected that student’s reputation and relationships. Families argued. Students took sides. The situation created tension throughout the small community.

At the time, no one realized the real source of the messages was participating in the accusations as well.

The Breakup

During the harassment, Lauryn and Owen eventually broke up, hoping the messages would stop.

They did not.

The harassment continued even after the relationship ended, which made the situation more confusing and frightening for the teenagers involved.

Illustrated rendering of Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenny created from publicly available photographs related to the case. This image is an artist’s sketch and not the original photograph.

The Volume of Harassment

By late 2021 and early 2022, the volume of messages had become overwhelming.

Investigators later described:

• thousands of texts

• messages sent at all hours

• multiple phone numbers and fake accounts

• attempts to disguise identity

Some messages were sent pretending to be classmates. Others pretended to be adults or anonymous tipsters.

The sender also contacted parents and authorities at times, creating false leads that diverted attention away from the real source.

The Investigation

Families eventually contacted law enforcement.

Digital forensic investigators began analyzing phone records, IP addresses, and internet activity.

Despite attempts to hide the origin, patterns began to appear. Messages were repeatedly linked to internet connections associated with the Licari home.

Investigators narrowed their focus and gathered enough evidence to move forward.

The Arrest

In December 2022, police arrested Kendra Licari, (Lauryn's Mother) age 42.

She was charged with:

• stalking a minor

• using a computer to commit a crime

• obstruction of justice

Court documents alleged that she had attempted to frame another student by directing suspicion toward her during the investigation.

Illustrated rendering of Kendra Licari created from publicly available booking photographs and documentary material. This image is an artist’s sketch and not the original photograph.

What She Said Her Reason Was

According to statements reported by prosecutors and later coverage of the case, Kendra Licari gave several explanations over time.

Among the reasons she reportedly gave:

• She said she was trying to protect her daughter from people she believed were speaking badly about her.

• She indicated she wanted to monitor who was interacting with her daughter and see how people would respond.

• Some reporting also describes investigators and people close to the case believing she was attempting to control or influence her daughter’s relationship and social life.

There is no single agreed motive officially stated in court beyond the actions themselves, but prosecutors characterized the conduct as intentional and sustained over many months.

The Plea and Sentence

Kendra Licari later pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking a minor.

Other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

In 2023, she was sentenced to 19 months to 5 years in prison.

Release

Records and reporting later confirmed that she was released in August 2024 and placed under supervision.

The Lasting Impact

By the time the truth came out, the damage had already spread.

A student had been wrongly suspected. Friendships had broken apart. Families had argued. A teenage girl had spent more than a year believing someone was watching her life closely enough to humiliate her at any moment.

And the person responsible had been inside her home the entire time.

Illustrated rendering of Lauryn Licari created from publicly available documentary footage and photographs. This image is an artist’s sketch and not the original photograph.

Case Facts

Location: Beal City area, Isabella County, Michigan

Years: 2020 to 2022

Victim: Lauryn Licari and another minor

Responsible person: Kendra Licari

Age of offender at arrest: 42

Age of primary victim when harassment began: 13

Outcome: Guilty plea to two counts of stalking a minor, sentenced 19 months to 5 years, released in 2024

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