Jacksonville Beach, Florida – A woman named Shanna Gardner is facing allegations of orchestrating the murder of her ex-husband, Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan. The case unfolded during a recent bond hearing, where Jacksonville Beach Police Detective Christopher Johns testified about incriminating text messages exchanged between Gardner and a friend dating back to 2015. According to Johns, Gardner expressed a desire to see her ex-husband gone, even mentioning a lethal injection.
Tragically, Bridegan, aged 33, was fatally shot multiple times at close range on February 16, 2022, while stepping out of his vehicle to move a tire obstructing a road in Jacksonville Beach. Police suspected foul play, believing the tire was intentionally placed to prompt Bridegan to stop and exit the vehicle. The chilling incident unfolded in front of Bridegan’s 2-year-old daughter, adding to the gravity of the crime.
Local media coverage following the murder shed light on the tumultuous custody battle between Bridegan and Gardner, who had divorced in 2016 but continued to navigate disputes over their children and finances. Gardner’s estranged second husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana, also found himself embroiled in the case as he faces charges in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire scheme.
Authorities revealed that Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana approached a former tenant, Henry Tenon, to carry out the hit on Bridegan, with Tenon reportedly agreeing to the plan in exchange for $150,000. Details emerged during testimony indicating that Tenon had received a check from Gardner’s and Saldana’s LLC, First Choice Home Rentals, marked with concerning messages like “Kickstarter” and “Good luck!”
As the intricate case unfolds, Tenon has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to provide testimony against Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana. Despite the mounting evidence and testimonies, Gardner’s attorney, Jose Baez, insists that there is a lack of incriminating texts or phone calls linking his client to Tenon. Both Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana have entered pleas of not guilty, further complicating the legal proceedings and leaving the community shaken by the heinous crime that transpired in their midst.