What’s New With Owen McKenny Nearly Three Years After the Cyberbullying Shock

At 13, Owen McKenny and his then-girlfriend Lauryn Licari were cyberbullied, ruining their lives. An unknown phone sent strange messages in late 2020 saying Owen and Lauryn were splitting up. After a hiatus, the worrying texts returned in fall 2021 and became more nasty. Many anonymous lines delivered threats, attacks, and vulgar content. Lauryn and Owen were moved.

The sender was unknown to the school and police for years. Not knowing who was doing this strained Owen since peers were suspected, gossip spread, and friends lost trust. He worried daily about being judged, observed, or overheard.

Digital forensics were employed by the FBI after parents and teachers alerted police. Lauryn’s mother, Kendra Licari, sent her shocking frightening texts. December 2022 saw her arrest. A 19-to-5-year sentence followed her 2023 plea for stalking adolescents. She got parole in August 2024.

Owen rebuilt his life since then. He signed with Hope College in Michigan to play baseball after completing high school in May 2025. He has spoken about moving on when Lauran’s mother betrayed him, despite being hurt and confused.

Lauryn is also recovering. At 18, she wants to study criminology to understand and prevent injustices like hers. Mother-daughter relations are strained. After Kendra’s release, they stopped talking.

Cyberbullying, digital anonymity, and psychological damage from protectors have been highlighted by the case. This raises unpleasant concerns about trust, mental health, and accountability in the connected era. Owen McKenny perseveres through fear and betrayal to pursue baseball, school, and his future.

Sources
People.com
EW.com
Marie Claire
E! Online
Parade