Pom Pom mom’s daughter speaks out for first time in decades about cheerleading murder plot that ruined her life

The daughter of a Texas mother who plotted to kill a cheer rival’s mother has spoken out for the first time in decades.

In 1991, Shanna Widner, then 13, had narrowly missed out on a spot on her high school cheerleading team for the second year in a row.

Furious, her mother Wanda Holloway, of Channelview, began plotting to defeat the mother of the 14-year-old, who she believed would put her daughter in this position.

Holloway believed that by killing Vera Heath, her daughter Amber would be too angry to continue cheerleading and would increase her daughter’s chances of making the team.

Shanna and Amber were best friends growing up and their mother’s were also close, with Widner saying Verna often helped her mother.

Speak with ABC News Ahead of a new Discovery documentary titled “The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot,” Widner spoke about the impact the case had on her.

She said: ‘I didn’t know what was going on, I knew she had said what would happen if something happened to Verna and Amber.

‘It was funny for a moment, but then I really thought about it. I remember telling her for sure it would be easier, but that wasn’t okay.”

Her mother Wanda Holloway, of Channelview, began making plans to beat the mother of the 14-year-old, who she believed would put her daughter in this position

Holloway had discussed having an assassin take out Verna with her former brother-in-law Terry Harper.

Shanna, seen here, and Amber had been best friends growing up and their mother’s were also close

She then handed over $2,000 worth of jewelry so he could arrange for a hit man to carry out the murders.

Unbeknownst to Holloway, Harper had gone to the police after her initial request and had the entire conversation on tape.

A trailer for the new documentary plays that exchange, with Harper and Holloway heard discussing compensation.

Harper confirms it would cost $7,500 if they were both killed, explaining it as “$5,000 for the girl, $2,500 for the mother.”

Holloway can be heard laughing as she responds, “The mother, she’s not worth any bullshit, is she?”

After hearing the infamous phone call between her mother and uncle, Widner said: “I was devastated, I thought she was definitely going to be gone for a long time.

“I think she was guilty of going to my uncle and even having this conversation, as much as I think it would ever happen. No, I don’t.

“I know my mother tried to get out of the situation she put herself in, but was told the hitman would be sent after her and her family.”

The next day, Shanna, unaware of her mother’s plot, was practicing in the garage when two police officers came to the door.

High school cheerleader Amber Heath, left, and her mother Verna Heath enter a courtroom in Houston, September 3, 1991

Shanna is seen here leaving a courtroom at her mother’s case in March 1991

Rather than face a second trial, Holloway pleaded no contest, was convicted and sentenced to 10 years. She served only six months before being placed on probation

Holloway was convicted of solicitation of capital murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison, but the conviction was overturned because a juror was on probation.

Rather than face a second trial, Holloway pleaded no contest, was convicted and sentenced to 10 years. She served only six months before being placed on probation.

Widner also revealed that one day she broke the case and said she had tried to suppress it for years.

She said: ‘I didn’t deal with things from the start, I just put them away. I found myself on the floor of my kitchen, missing several days of work.

‘I just didn’t see the reason to be here anymore. I suffered, and I mean that with all my heart. Suffering. Just being awake hurt.

“I thought none of this would have happened if I hadn’t existed, if I hadn’t done better and if I hadn’t really been on the team.”

Archive footage unearthed by the documentary makers also shows the lengths Holloway went to to care for her daughter.

She says: ‘I have always played a very active role in my children’s lives. I mean, that’s what parents are for.’

“If it’s greedy to want something good for your child, then I guess they can label me as greedy.”