Kendra Gail Licari, a 43-year-old woman from Michigan, was sentenced to a prison term ranging from 19 months to five years in April 2023 for cyberbullying her own teenage daughter and the daughter's boyfriend. The bullying, which began in early 2021, involved Licari pretending to be a teenager and sending harassing messages to her daughter and her boyfriend multiple times a day. The case, which was resolved without going to trial due to Licari’s full confession, revealed that she used a virtual private network (VPN) to mask her location and maintain her disguise. The FBI intervened to trace the source after local authorities could not uncover the bully's identity.
The motivations behind Licari's actions remain unclear, though it was suggested that she might have wanted her daughter to feel dependent on her. This has been likened to a form of 'cyber Munchausen’s syndrome.' Following the investigation, she was charged in December 2022. The disturbing nature of the hundreds of messages included doctored photos, although specifics were not disclosed during the sentencing.
Licari is currently serving her sentence at Michigan’s Special Alternative Incarceration Women’s Facility, with the possibility of early release in November 2024. Her story has been adapted into a Lifetime movie titled "Mommy Meanest," starring Lisa Rinna, which premiered on May 11, 2024. The film explores themes similar to the real-life events while offering a narrative on Licari's possible motivations.