Title: Ex-Wife and New Husband Face Death Penalty for Murder of Man in Custody Dispute
Subtitle: Jared Bridegan’s Murder Finally Solved After 18 Months
By Jen Smith, Chief Reporter For Dailymail.Com
18:19 17 Aug 2023, updated 18:58 17 Aug 2023
In a shocking turn of events, Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardener-Fernandez, has been charged with his murder. The 33-year-old tech executive was shot dead in front of his toddler daughter in February 2022. Now, both Shanna and her new husband, Mario Saldana Fernandez, face the death penalty for their alleged involvement.
The motive behind the murder was an ongoing custody dispute between Bridegan and Gardener-Fernandez over their two oldest children. Bridegan had just dropped off the twins at his ex-wife’s house in Jacksonville Beach, Florida when he was killed.
For months, the case remained unsolved until hitman Henry Tenon confessed to the plot after being arrested for an unrelated crime. He revealed that Fernandez had hired him to kill Bridegan. This confession led to the indictment of both Shanna and Mario on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
It is still unclear what new evidence emerged that led police to charge Gardener-Fernandez. Since the murder, she had been laying low, evading suspicion. However, today, the grand jury indictment confirmed her involvement in the crime.
Saldana-Fernandez, who pleaded not guilty earlier this year, is awaiting trial. Tenon, on the other hand, has agreed to testify against him in court. The hitman and Fernandez had met when Tenon rented a home from him.
Jared Bridegan’s widow, Kirsten, described their life together as idyllic before the tragic incident. On the day of his murder, Jared had dropped off the twins and was driving home with his two-year-old daughter when he encountered a tire in the middle of the road. As he got out to move it, he was shot dead in an execution-style killing.
Friends and family of Bridegan expressed profound shock over the murder, as they knew him as a devoted father and a man without enemies. However, it seems that the custody dispute escalated to a point where his life was taken.
The news of Shanna Gardener-Fernandez’s involvement in her ex-husband’s murder has shocked the community. Some who knew the couple before their arrests described her transformation from a “goody two shoes girl” to a “wild lady.” The motive behind their relationship and her subsequent marriage to Mario remains unclear.
As the legal proceedings continue, the families involved hope for justice to be served. Bridegan’s widow, Kirsten, previously warned Shanna and Mario, “Enjoy your freedom while you can.” Now, with the death penalty on the table, the consequences of their alleged actions are dire.
The murder of Jared Bridegan highlights the grim consequences of a bitter custody dispute. It serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of resolving such conflicts peacefully and without resorting to violence.
