Unhinged Details About The Texas Cheerleader Plot

Holloway wanted her daughter to succeed as a cheerleader. Her drive matched anything seen on a drama episode.Dance MomsHolloway bought five-year-old Shanna her first cheer outfit. She signed her daughter up for gymnastics after splitting from Tony Harper. Holloway had a clear goal.

Holloway focused on Verna Heath, the neighbor whose daughter won beauty pageants and won tumbling awards. Verna's room held trophies. She became an instant rival, even though Shanna seemed distant about the whole thing.

Shanna Harper (now Shanna Widner after marriage) said, “At some point it clicked: This isn’t fun. But I was so close to my mom. She was my world, and I wanted to please her.”People.

Both girls attended Alpha Gymnastics. They learned cheerleading from teachers certified by the National Cheerleading Association, butHolloway pushed her daughter hard during practice, even with injuries. Her daughter needed to be the best.

Alpha Gymnastics was hyper-competitive. It was the kind of place that suited Holloway's strong approach to training her daughter. Students wore expensive gear, and parents paid $36 an hour for private lessons. These kids acted like celebrities, or at least, their parents pretended they were.This placesuited Holloway's strong approach to training her daughter. Students wore expensive gear, and parents paid $36 an hour for private lessons. These kids acted like celebrities, or at least, their parents pretended they were.

Parents often asked local papers to run their children's cheerleading photos or pressured school sponsors. Parents and kids spread bad rumors about the competition. One time, someone even made a bomb threat during cheer tryouts at Alice Johnson Junior High. The rivalry between Verna Heath and Wanda Holloway was the fiercest; the pair were known for being cutthroat.

In 1989, Shanna should have become a cheerleader. Her mother pulled Shanna out of Channelview Christian School, where Shanna and Amber attended, to keep her away from the competition. Shanna would likely succeed in public school, but the competition followed her...

Heath also signed Amber up for seventh grade at Alice Johnson Junior High. Though Amber attended private school during tryouts, the principal gave her special permission to attend meet and greets. These were three days for students to campaign for a spot on the cheer squad. Amber printed flyers with peppermint candies and won over her peers. Holloway was furious because she signed Shanna up early to qualify.

With two spots open and three girls trying out, Shanna would have automatically made the cut if Amber had gotten special permission to campaign.

In eighth grade, Holloway wanted Shanna on the cheer squad after failing to make the cut in 1989. Holloway made rulers and number-two pencils saying "Vote for Shanna Harper for Cheerleader." Holloway shared the cost with her ex-husband, who said he thought it was smart because "most kids couldn't afford them."

The rulers and pencils broke the school's election code.. They confiscated the items. Holloway passed them out days later. Because Holloway broke the rules constantly, a meeting happened, and Shanna got disqualified from tryouts. Heath, who gave his daughter similar handouts the year before, was at the meeting. Holloway felt heartbroken.They took the items, but Holloway passed them out days later. Because Holloway broke rules constantly, a meeting happened. Shanna got disqualified from the tryouts. Heath, who gave her daughter similar handouts the year before, attended the meeting. Holloway felt heartbroken.

Shanna said, “She felt Verna was trying to get in the way of my becoming a cheerleader.” People.She felt Verna tried to block her from becoming a cheerleader.

When Shanna reached high school, things changed. Shanna did not want to cheerlead after failing to make the eighth-grade squad. However, her mother aimed for the team at Channelview High School. Amber also tried out; that was the issue.

Holloway needed help with her wicked plan to get her daughter on the Channelview High School cheer squad. She trusted only family and looked to Terry Harper, her first husband's brother, who had minor crimes. Harper had a couple of misdemeanors and claimed Holloway seemed calm about hiring him for the killing.

.Holloway considered killing both women first. Then, she found out it would cost too much. Instead, she planned to kill only Verna Heath, thinking Amber would be too upset to try out for the high school team.Harper might have had a DUI, but he was not a hardened criminal. He did not want to murder other cheer moms. He took Holloway's plans to the police.

Holloway first considered killing both of them, but she learned it would cost too much. Instead, she chose to kill only Verna Heath, thinking Amber would be too upset to try out for the high school team.

Harper might have had a DUI, but he was not a hardened criminal. He did not want to murder fellow cheer moms. He reported Holloway's plans to the police.

Harper had to show the police that his former sister-in-law planned to kill someone by hiring a hit. Believing an elegant mother from a rich family could be a cold-blooded killer was hard. Still, the police listened to Harper. They taught him how to record phone calls with Holloway and gave him a wire to wear during meetings with his sister-in-law for three weeks.

Police became more sure Harper planned to follow through on her dark scheme. They eventually set up a sting to catch her.Police quoted $2,500 for Verna's murder.They quoted an extra $5,000 to kill Amber. Holloway could not pay for both, so she chose Verna, hoping Amber would be too upset to compete.

Holloway dropped Shanna at church and met Harper in a hotel parking lot. She gave him diamond earrings as payment, saying, “I couldn’t pull the trigger myself, but I can sure do it this way.” Police arrested her the next day.

Holloway forced her daughter into a rivalry with Amber Heath, but Shanna truly wanted them to be friends.Their similarities were striking. Amber beat Shanna in every way. Amber led the eighth grade; Shanna was the vice president. The yearbook voted Amber friendliest and most spirited. Both girls sought spots on the cheer squad.Amber outperformed Shanna in every way. Amber held the eighth-grade presidency; Shanna held the vice presidency. The yearbook named Amber friendliest and most spirited. Both girls aimed for a spot on the cheer squad as honors students.

The girls shared sleepovers in elementary school and used a carpool. Holloway viewed this as keeping friends close and enemies near.

In January 1991, Shanna wasHolloway's trouble caused major emotional strain on her two children, especially Shanna. Holloway stopped her from switching schools while waiting for trial. Shanna returned to the place labeled "Pom-Pom Mom's Daughter." Shane's college fund was destroyed paying Holloway's legal bills. When the stubborn mother refused counseling for these issues, Tony Harper sued for custody.Holloway received a 14-year prison sentence. The result became a mistrial. Later, she accepted a plea deal, served six months, and got probation.

Holloway returned the next day after posting bail. She told her daughter she was arrested for plotting to kill Verna Heath.

Holloway's experience caused major emotionalstressThis strain hit her two children, especially Shanna. Holloway stopped her from changing schools while she waited for trial. Thus, she returned to the place where she became "Pom-Pom Mom's Daughter." Shane, her brother, faced a poor future after his college fund paid Holloway's legal bills. When the stubborn mother refused counseling for these problems, Tony Harper sued her for custody.

The court sentenced Holloway to 14 years in prison. The final outcome was amistrialShe later accepted a plea deal, served only six months, and got probation.

Amber made the cheer squad the following year. Her story became a film calledThe Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom.