What we know About The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot Documentary

What happens when parents fail to cope with their kids not succeeding? For one Wanda Holloway, it was to hire a hitman and try to kill the mother of her daughter’s cheerleading rival. No, this isn’t a plot fresh out of a 90s straight-to-DVD film. 

Instead, this is something that happened in real life and now Investigation Discovery is shedding light on that event through exclusive interviews with the daughter of the woman who almost committed the crime. 

In this article, we will discuss everything we know about the documentary, including the full real-life case, release date, streaming details, and more. We will also keep updating this article with new information as and when they get released. So, stay tuned!

When and Where to Watch The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot?

The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot will premiere on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery. It will also stream on Max. 

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What is the plot of The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot?

The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot is a two-hour documentary delving into an arrest that shocked the small town of Channelview, Texas, in January 1991. More than three decades ago, a 36-year-old mother, Wanda Holloway, was charged with trying to kill the mother of her daughter’s cheerleading rival. 

Authorities said that the Pom-Pom Mom tried to hire a hitman to end 38-year-old Verna Heath’s life so that her 14-year-old daughter Shanna could get a spot on the cheerleading squad. This incident was shocking because Wanda was seen as an upstanding member of society and even served at the local Missionary Baptist Church. 

However, the murder didn’t happen because police learned of her plans and arrested her. Now, in this documentary, an interview with Shanna sheds light on her mother’s motivations and how she coped with the aftermath of what happened. 

The documentary will also re-enact the incident and examine the effect this had on media and popular culture as well as how that in-turn affected Shanna. 

The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot Trailer

The trailer begins with a conversation between the hitman and Wanda Holloway, where the former says that it will take $7,500 to end both the girl and her mother- it will be $5,000 for the daughter and $2,500 for the mother. Wanda then laughs as she says, “The mother, she ain’t worth crap is she?” Check out the trailer below:

Another clip opens with Shanna saying that her mom asked her to give her number to Uncle Terry. She did as she was told but Terry wasn’t who he said to be. He wasn’t going to help Wanda get a mother killed. This was because Terry was working with the cops. Check out the clip below: 

Who is in The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot?

• Jesse McQueen as Marla Harper
• Zoé Allain as Shanna Harper
• David Fournier as Terry Harper
• Deanna Palazzo as Wanda Holloway
• Jay Rainville as Flynt Blackwell

Is the Texas Cheerleader Scandal a true Story?

Yes, the Texas cheerleader scandal is a true story. Wanda Holloway tried to murder Verna Heath after her daughter Amber made the cheerleading squad but her own daughter Shanna didn’t. Wanda was obsessed with her daughter being on the squad and when she failed thrice, she decided to take matters into her own hands. 

She contacted Terry Harper, her former brother-in-law, and asked him to get hold of a hitman. He reported this to the Harris County sheriff’s office but played along with Wanda’s request. She gave him a pair of diamond earrings for the down payment. 

Holloway was charged with the solicitation of murder. In the first trial she was found guilty but the conviction was later overturned. To avoid a second trial, she pleaded no contest. Wanda was sentenced to 10 years but received probation after six months. 

Behind the Scenes

The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot is directed by Jason Lapeyre. The executive producers include David W. Brady, Kate Harrison Karman, Jeffrey Hirschfield. Pamela Deutsch and Meredith Russell are the executive producers for Warner Bros. Discovery. Jason Lapeyre and Matt MacLellan are the producers. Cream Production is the production company involved.