No one killed Verna Heath — but it almost happened. This is known as The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot. In 1991, Wanda Holloway, the famous "Pom-Pom Mom," supposedly tried to hire a hitman to eliminate her, blaming her for her daughter Shanna's failure to make the cheerleading squad. The police thwarted the plan before Verna or her daughter, Amber, were harmed.
Years after the incident, Wanda lives quietly, and no one knows exactly where she is. Her daughter Shanna still talks to her. Meanwhile, Verna and her daughter Amber have tried to move on and keep away from public attention.
The plan that shook Texas
Wanda Holloway had once seemed like a normal, caring mother, active in her church and well-respected in the community. But when her daughter Shanna failed twice to make the cheerleading team, Holloway allegedly decided someone had to pay. Her target? Verna Heath, mother of Amber, Shanna's rival.
Determined to get Verna out of the way, Wanda reportedly sought out her ex-brother-in-law, Terry Harper, to hire a killer. Terry, alarmed by the proposal, went to the police, agreeing to record his conversations with Wanda to gather evidence. In one of the recordings, she supposedly said:
"The mother, she ain't worth c*ap, is she?", laughing while discussing the details.
They allegedly negotiated prices, with Wanda claiming:
"$5,000 for the girl. $2,500 for the mother."
In another meeting, in a parking lot, Wanda reportedly handed over a pair of diamond earrings as an initial payment and stated that the focus would be only on Verna:
"The mother's done more damage than the daughter. The mother is the one that screwed me around."
With Terry Harper's help, the police stopped Wanda before she could hurt anyone and then arrested her for conspiracy to commit murder.
Legal consequences
Wanda Holloway's case became a national scandal with extensive media coverage. In 1991, Wanda was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Her first conviction was later canceled due to jury problems. To avoid a second trial, she pleaded guilty. She got a 10-year sentence but only served 6 months before being put on probation.
After getting out of jail, Wanda vanished from public view. Nobody knows exactly where she is now, but it seems she wanted to escape the media attention from the early 1990s.
Impact on the family
Shanna Widner, Wanda's daughter, was deeply affected by the scandal. In an interview with Good Morning America, she recalled the moment she said goodbye to her mother during the trial:
"When I hugged her at that point, before they cuffed her and took her away, I really thought I'm not going to get to touch her again for another 14 years."
For years, the family avoided talking about the case.
"We didn't discuss it. It was like it didn't happen," Shanna said.
Despite this, she maintained contact with her mother and allowed Wanda to be part of her children's lives.
"When my boys were born, she was just as much a part of my life as she had always been," she revealed.
The experience, however, shaped how Shanna raised her own children. She decided to avoid any behavior resembling a "stage mom," emphasizing:
"If it's not fun, I think parents should take that into consideration. If they're not having fun, then try something different. It's not worth it."
The legacy of a scandal
Wanda Holloway's case transcended police headlines, becoming part of popular culture. It inspired two TV movies, a book, and an avalanche of media coverage. Still, the documentary The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot promises a more in-depth and critical look at how the media distorted the case's impact:
"delving into the way in which broadcast news — and popular culture — ultimately got it wrong."
Trending
Set to premiere on December 18, 2024, on ID and Max, the documentary The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot includes exclusive interviews with Shanna, offering new perspectives on her mother's alleged motivations and the lasting impact of the scandal on their lives.
More than three decades later, Wanda Holloway's case continues to fascinate the public, not just as a foiled crime but as a reflection of how ambition and obsession can lead to extreme acts.
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