During a bond hearing in Duval County, Florida, shocking details emerged regarding the murder of Microsoft manager Jared Bridegan. His ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, is accused of orchestrating his killing by hiring a hitman, Henry Tenon, for $150,000. Gardner, along with her second husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony, and child endangerment.
A witness testified that Gardner wrote 'good luck!' on a check to Tenon, indicating her alleged involvement in the murder plot. The payment was disguised as an investment in Tenon's pallet company but was intended as payment for the homicide. Prosecutors described the scheme as a contract killing of Bridegan, who was shot and killed in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, in February 2022.
The murder was believed to be a setup, with Bridegan encountering a tire on a secluded road before being shot in front of his car. His young daughter was present during the incident and was later rescued by good Samaritans. Gardner reportedly suggested to police that the shooting may have been related to a drug deal gone wrong or gang initiation, but investigators found no evidence to support these claims.
Detectives revealed that Gardner and Saldana had been planning Bridegan's murder for years, with Saldana allegedly coming close to carrying out the act on multiple occasions. The motive behind the murder was said to stem from custody disputes between Gardner and Bridegan over their children, with Saldana's solution always being to 'take care of Jared,' interpreted as a directive to kill him.
Both Gardner and Fernandez Saldana have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Tenon, who admitted to pulling the trigger, has agreed to testify against the other suspects. The case continues to unfold as more details of the chilling murder plot come to light.
