Beth Richards (Cheer Camp Killer)

**Beth Richards** (Andrea Bogart) is the secondary villainess from the 2020 Lifetime film, *Cheer Camp Killer* (airdate October 10, 2020).

## Events

Beth Richards is a cheerleading coach and the mother of cheerleader/main villainess Victoria Richards, though her backstory revealed that she was once a cheerleader herself. It was also revealed that both Beth and Victoria were left in debt due to the former's ex-husband (Victoria's father) giving their money to a crooked accountant, leaving the pair hopeful to gain a cheerleading scholarship for Victoria. After seeing another cheerleader, Lilly Walker, as a threat to their goals, Beth turned heel and informed Victoria that Lilly had to be eliminated, with Victoria enlisting Greg (Victoria's lover/trainer) to drug Lilly, resulting in Lilly being kicked off the squad.

The film's events saw main protagonist Sophia Jacobs join the squad and (along with the other cheerleaders) was introduced to all of the coaches, with Beth establishing herself as being driven and obsessed with winning. After seeing Sophia's stellar performance, Beth subjected Victoria to a late night practice, reminding her daughter about her father's bad investments and their need for the scholarship. The film's progression saw Victoria slowly drive wedges between Sophia and both of her friends, Jack (who carried a torch for Sophia) and Charlotte Brown, while Sophia ended up joining Beth's red squad.

In addition, Charlotte and Kara Webber were admonished after they were identified (by Sophia and Victoria, mainly the latter) as the students who were out drinking late at night, but Beth had known the truth and lashed out at her daughter for her latest actions, while revealing that Victoria's planned scholarship was more for her than her own daughter. Later on, after being informed by Victoria that Sophia had an aversion to heights, Beth ordered Sophia to practice as a flyer, resulting in Sophia's ankle being injured. The villainess feigned shock and tended to Sophia, but in actuality, both she and Victoria smirked over their actions.

In the film's climax, the evil Beth advised Victoria to "do what she needed to do" regarding Sophia, which resulted in Sophia being attacked and tied up to a tree by Victoria. Sophia was rescued by Charlotte and Jack, after which the trio performed at the showcase, which Sophia won. Sophia also revealed that Victoria attacked her and held her captive, which was followed by Victoria being arrested, while Beth pleaded with Victoria to not say anything until she contacted her lawyer, with Beth's fate remaining unknown.

## Personality

* Beth Richards is similar to fellow Lifetime "Fear the Cheer" villainess Nina Sendak from *Cheer Squad Secrets*, as both were cheerleader coaches who resorted to ruthless and villainous methods to achieve their goals. She is also similar to another Lifetime villainess, Rhonda Chalmers, from *Lethal Soccer Mom*, as both of them used their evil methods to help their daughters. Because of the similarity to Rhonda Chalmers, Beth was assumed as the film's main villainess, when she was actually secondary to Victoria.

## Trivia

* Andrea Bogart also played villainess Patience Broadbent on *The Mentalist*, as well as tragic murderesses Courtney Brown and Corrina Huff on *Rizzoli & Isles* and *Lucifer*, respectively.