Jared Bridegan murder: Ex-wife Shanna Gardner appears in court as DeSantis signs extradition order

Shanna Gardner is accused of conspiring to kill Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan with her new husband Mario Fernandez

Arrest made in murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan

Shanna Gardner, the ex-wife accused of orchestrating the death of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, appeared in a Washington court on Thursday to dispute her extradition to Florida.

Ms Gardner appeared in Benton County Superior Court after Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed an extradition order, the Jacksonville State Attorney’s Office told News4Jax.

The extradition hearing was an attempt by Ms Gardner’s attorneys to prevent her extradition to Duval County where she faces charges of first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and child abuse.

The ex-wife of Bridegan is accused of hatching a murder-for-hire plot with her second husband, Mario Fernandez, to kill Bridegan by hiring Henry Tenon to shoot him.

Bridegan was dropping off his two children at Ms Gardner’s home in Jacksonville Beach when he was ambushed and fatally shot. One of his other children was in the car at the time.

Ms Gardner, who resides in Washington state, was arrested on 17 August – more than a year after Bridegan was killed.

The Independent has reached out to Jacksonville State Attorney for comment.

Key Points

• Shanna Gardner to appear in court today for extradition hearing
• Ex-wife of slain Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan charged with murder
• Who is Mario Fernandez, the man accused of orchestrating Jared Bridegan’s murder?
• Widow welcomes news of arrest
• Shanna Gardner refuses to waive extradition to Florida

[15 September 2023 13:00 · Ariana Baio]

Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan was shot dead in a chilling ambush. Did his ex wife arrange it?

The targeted murder of a Florida father of four has unravelled a shocking alleged plot between his ex-wife, her next husband and the new spouse’s one-time tenant.

Graig Graziosi and Sheila Flynn report:

[15 September 2023 11:00 · Ariana Baio]

ICYMI: Ron DeSantis signs extradition for Shanna Gardner

Florida governor Ron DeSantis has signed an order for the extradition of Shanna Gardner, the Jacksonville State Attorney’s Office confirmed to News4JAX.

Ms Gardner moved to Washington with two children that she shared with her ex-husband Jared Bridegan, who she is accused of killing, after his death.

She was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday morning for her extradition hearing

[15 September 2023 09:00 · Ariana Baio]

What Shanna Gardner’s family said after she was arrested

Shanna Gardner-Fernandez’s family issued a statement in the wake of her arrest.

“Words cannot accurately express the depth of our sadness. Family is our top priority. We love our daughter and are focused on supporting her and our entire family as we help our grandchildren navigate this difficult and very confusing time,” her parents, Shelli and Sterling Gardner, said.

“For their sake and all involved, we caution against further speculation and request privacy as the legal process runs its course. In the meantime, we are thankful for the continued support, thoughtfulness and prayers being so generously shared by friends and loved ones.”

[15 September 2023 07:00 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: Moment Mario Fernandez arrested over allegedly orchestrating Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan’s murder

[15 September 2023 05:00 · Ariana Baio]

Who is Henry Tenon?

Henry Tenon, 61, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder with a weapon, accessory after the fact to a capital felony and felony child abuse, all relating to Jared Bridegan’s murder in January.

Mr Tenon was served with an arrest warrant and brought to the James I Montgomery Correctional Center.

Mr Tenon was previously on 18 August 2022 for possessing a weapon as a felon and driving with a suspended license, both unrelated to the second-degree murder charges. He has prior convictions for burglary, misdemeanour battery, and some traffic offenses.

Investigators revealed a connection between Mr Tenon and Mr Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez. They said Mr Tenon was living at a home in Jacksonville that was owned by Mario Fernandez, Ms Gardner-Fernandez’s husband at the time of the murder.

An old booking photo of Henry Tenon, now 61, who has been charged with second-degree murder connected to the 2022 death of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach, Florida (Florida Department of Corrections)

[15 September 2023 03:00 · Ariana Baio]

New bodycam footage shows moment Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife is arrested

Newly released bodycam footage shows the dramatic moment police arrested Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife for the Microsoft executive’s murder.

Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, 36, was taken into custody in front of the couple’s children at her Washington state home just before 9am on 17 August 2023 after a year-long investigation.

Andrea Cavallier reports:

[15 September 2023 00:00 · Ariana Baio]

Who is Mario Fernandez?

Mario Fernandez Saldana, 34, was arrested in Kissimmee, Florida, in March, according to State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith.

Mr Fernandez Saldana is the husband of Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez.

Officials say he has been charged with first-degree murder with a weapon, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse.

The arrest of Mr Fernandez Saldana comes months after the arrest of his tenant Henry Tenon, 61, who prosecutors say was the gunman and pulled the trigger in the killing.

According to Mr Fernandea Saldana’s arrest warrant, bank records show that he hand-wrote Mr Tenon three checks.

Prosecutors also say that “phone records show that Tenon and Fernandez had 35 phone contacts in February, 30 contacts in March and five to nine contacts in May and June, 2022.”

Mario Fernandez, then 34, sitting handcuffed after being arrested on suspicion of orchestrating the murder of Jared Bridegan (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)

[14 September 2023 22:00 · Ariana Baio]

Widow of Microsoft executive gunned downprays ‘evil and cowardly’ killers are brought to justice

The widow of a Florida Microsoft executive who was gunned down in an execution-style murder in front of his two-year-old daughter is praying that forensic evidence will lead detectives to her husband’s killer.

Father-of-four Jared Bridegan, 33, was driving home with his daughter Bexley after dropping his nine-year-old twins with his ex-wife when he was ambushed and shot dead in Jacksonville Beach on 16 February.

Bevan Hurley reports:

[14 September 2023 21:00 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: Moment Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife arrested

[14 September 2023 20:00 · Ariana Baio]

Catch up with the case

Jared Bridegan, 33, was shot multiple times from close range after a tire in the road forced him to pull over. He had just dropped his twin daughters off at their mother’s house when he encountered the road block, and was shot immediately after he exited his car.

In the months since, details of Mr Bridegan’s messy divorce and custody battle with his ex-wife, Shanna Gardener-Fernandez, have come to light, though no further developments in the criminal investigation were announced to the public.

Graig Graziosi reports: