It was not so joyful.
The incredible true story of a mother who became embroiled in a “murder-for-hire” plot – all to take down her daughter’s cheerleading rival – is chronicled in the new documentary, “The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot.”
The documentary will premiere on iD (and stream on Max) on Wednesday, December 18 1991 case Wanda Holloway, a church-going mother in Channelview, Texas, was convicted of trying to hire a hit man to kill Verna Heath, the mother of her daughter Shanna’s cheerleading rival. (According to police, Holloway thought her daughter’s opponent, Amber Heath, would be too distraught to compete if her mother was murdered).
Shanna, now 47, told The Post that participating in the documentary was a “healing process” for her. He also said that he has not spoken to Amber since the incident.
“I was 14 years old when it happened. So, I was at that pivotal age where you’re figuring out who you are and discovering yourself and what your interests are and what you’re good at and start thinking a little bit about the future,” Shanna said.
He further added, “When this happened, it completely destroyed my personality. It changed it in such a way that instead of being an extrovert, I became very introverted and didn’t even want attention to be paid to me.”
Shanna, whose mother pushed her into cheerleading, recalls, “I wanted to disappear because I was so embarrassed and humiliated. It was shameful. It was painful and I did not cope with it for many years. And it affected me in every way.”
Along with this documentary, Shanna also created a website named “Smile more, worry less” And online courses to help people with depression.
She said that she had gone through what her mother had achieved infamy, although it almost killed her.
Shanna, who still lives in Texas and is now a teacher with two sons, said one of her biggest issues was the perception that “people were hating on me” over the incident.
“I’m sure it was aimed more at my mother. It still hurts me… I was a victim in this, and I had nothing to do with it… I was just pushed into it. And it was so strange and so unheard of. How do you even know where to start dealing with something like this?”
Holloway – known as “The Pom-Pom Mom” – is still alive and no longer in prison.
At the time, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but she got probation after serving only six months. Per ABC13.
Shanna told The Post that she did not believe Holloway would have gone through with the hit man. “I can’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. I really believe she tried to get out of the situation but couldn’t.”
The documentary details how Holloway reportedly reached out to her late former brother-in-law, Terry Harper, to see if he could arrange a hit. He then went to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, where he agreed to wear a wire and collect evidence against him.
Shanna, who still has a relationship with her mother, said that Holloway is convinced that Terry set him up.
,[People] Think he’s crazy or evil, and I think that’s a misconception. I think everyone has a little bit of madness and evil in them to some degree and it’s not always noticed. But he also has a very funny side. She has that personality that draws you in like a light in a room,” Shanna explained.
He further added, “He is not crazy. He is human. And like everyone else, he too has good and bad days.
