Kendra Licari harassed her own daughter and her daughter's boyfriend by sending threatening, explicit, and harmful anonymous text messages over nearly two years. Her actions were driven by deep-rooted trauma, including past sexual assault and suppressed childhood trauma, which resurfaced as her daughter reached her teenage years. Kendra said she was in a very troubled mental state and initially denied sending the original texts but later admitted that once she started sending messages, she couldn't stop. She expressed that her motivation was a fearful, twisted attempt to keep her daughter close and protect her from perceived dangers based on her own past experiences. She also showed genuine remorse and sought mental health counseling before and after her arrest. Kendra was arrested in December 2022 and pleaded guilty to stalking a minor, receiving a prison sentence of 19 months to five years. She was released on parole in August 2024. Her actions have caused profound damage to her relationship with her daughter, and the family is still grappling with the aftermath. Experts and the documentary director noted that her behavior had elements of a psychological need to maintain control and closeness but also cautioned against simplistically labeling it as a recognized medical condition like Munchausen by proxy syndrome.
In summary, Kendra Licari's actions stemmed from trauma, fear, and an inability to cope with her mental health struggles, which led to a harmful and destructive attempt to control her daughter's life.
