Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife arrested, facing charges in his 2022 murder in Jacksonville Beach

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife has been charged in his February 2022 murder, State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced Thursday.

The State Attorney’s Office said it would announce “a significant development” in the investigation. That development was the arrest of Shanna Gardner-Fernandez.

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Gardner-Fernandez is facing charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder, and child abuse. She was arrested by ATF agents in West Richland, Washington.

As of 3:30 p.m., online jail records showed that she was being held by the Benton County Corrections Department in Washington. Per Washington state records, Gardner-Fernandez’s mugshot will not be released.

She will be extradited to Duval County, Nelson said.

Nelson, as well as Jacksonville Beach Police Department Chief Gene Paul Smith, and ATF Special Agent Bob Bryson appeared at the news conference, along with Bridegan’s brother Adam and his widow Kirsten Bridegan.

Nelson said her office will file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Gardner-Fernandez.

Bridegan was gunned down Feb. 16, 2022, in Jacksonville Beach after taking his twins he shared with Gardner-Fernandez, and his then-2-year-old Bexley, his daughter with wife Kirsten Bridegan, to dinner.

The software engineer had just dropped off the twins at Gardner-Fernandez’s house when he encountered a tire in Sanctuary Boulevard, a one-way road. He was headed home to his second wife, Kirsten Bridegan, with whom he shared children Bexley and London.

Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said during the announce of the first arrest in January, that the “the tire was purposely placed there to make him stop which he did.”

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“Tragically he began to exit his vehicle to move the tire and he was gunned down in cold blood,” Smith said.

Bridegan was shot several times while Bexley was still strapped into a car seat in the back seat of his car.

Before Thursday’s announcement, two other people were arrested in a murder-for-hire plot to kill Bridegan, a St. Johns County father of 4.

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Mario Fernandez Saldana was arrested in March on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, child abuse, and solicitation to commit a capital felony. Fernandez Saldana is the current husband of Gardner-Fernandez.

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Henry Tenon, 61, was arrested in January in connection to Bridegan’s murder. He was arrested in January on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after the fact to a capital felony, child abuse, and second-degree murder

Tenon, who rented a home from Fernandez Saldana, agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder. That means Tenon faces 15 years to life in prison, but not the death penalty.

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Nelson said Thursday that Tenon did not act alone in Bridegan’s murder and Fernandez Saldana did not plan it alone. She said Thursday’s briefing would be her last public update on the case.

Gardner-Fernandez’s parents Shelli and Sterling Gardner released the following statement:

“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. 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.”

PHOTOS: The people connected to the Jared Bridegan murder investigation

Jared Galen Bridegan Jared Bridegan was gunned down Feb. 16, 2022, in Jacksonville Beach after taking his twins he shared with ex-wife Shanna Gardner Fernandez and his 2-year-old Bexley, his daughter with wife Kirsten Bridegan, to dinner. The software engineer had just dropped off the twins at Gardner-Fernandez’s house when he encountered a tire in the one-way road. (Jacksonville Beach Police Department)

Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said the “the tire was purposely placed there to make him stop which he did. Tragically he began to exit his vehicle to move the tire and he was gunned down in cold blood." (Action News Jax)

Henry Tenon, 61 Henry Tenon entered a plea of guilty to second-degree murder with a weapon Thursday, March 16, 2023 in Bridegan’s murder. State Attorney Melissa Nelson said Tenon didn't work alone. Tenon's arrest was first announced in January. (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)

Mario Fernandez Saldana On March 16, 2023, a second arrest was announced in the murder of Bridegan. Mario Fernandez Saldana, the current husband of Bridegan's ex-wife Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, was charged with first-degree murder. (Orange County Sheriff's Office)

Shanna Gardner-Fernandez Shanna Gardner-Fernandez and Mario Fernandez Saldana met in 2018 at her CrossFit gym, where Fernandez Saldana worked as a maintenance man. State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced Gardner-Fernandez's arrest in Bridegan's murder on Aug. 17, 2023.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson State Attorney Melissa Nelson was asked on March 16, 2023 if more arrests would be coming in the case. She said, “At this time, I’m not going to answer that question.” (Action News Jax)

Kirsten Bridegan Kirsten Bridegan, Jared's widow, spoke on "The Dr. Phil Show," reacting to a one-on-one interview that Shanna Gardner-Fernandez did with Action News Jax. “I have never found Shanna to be a truthful person. So I don’t put a lot of weight into what she said. But I’m glad that she is on camera stating some things. The fact that she seems to me to be trying to be emotional. There’s no tears, there’s no real emotion there, doesn’t come across as genuine to me.”

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