Wanda Holloway

Wanda Webb Holloway is a woman from Channelview, Texas, known for hiring a hitman to kill the mother of her daughter's cheerleading rival.

Overview

In 1991, Holloway's daughter, Shanna, was beaten out for a spot on her junior high school's cheerleading squad by Amber Heath. In revenge, Holloway asked her ex-brother-in-law, Terry Harper, to hire a hitman to kill Verna Heath, Amber's mother. Holloway wanted the mother killed because she determined that the competing girl would be so devastated by her mother's death that she would drop out of the team thereby giving the spot to Shanna. However, unknown to Holloway, Harper had gone straight to the police after Holloway approached him, and Holloway was arrested the next day. She became known as the "Pom-Pom Mom", and her story gained national attention and spawned two TV movies.

Aftermath

Holloway was convicted of solicitation of capital murder in a 1991 trial and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. However, the conviction was overturned when it was discovered one of the jurors was on probation for a drug offense and should have never been allowed to serve on the jury. There was no second trial because Holloway pleaded "no contest" (nolo contendere). The judge found her guilty and sentenced her to ten years in prison. She was released on March 1, 1997 after serving six months of her sentence. The judge ordered her to serve the remaining 9.5 years on probation. She was also ordered to complete one thousand hours of community service.

Movies

Movies made about the incident include:

• The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, a 1993 HBO film which starred Holly Hunter as Wanda Holloway.

• Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story, a 1992 ABC film with Lesley Ann Warren as Wanda Holloway.