Renowned attorney Jose Baez to represent Bridegan’s ex-wife in murder-for-hire plot

Jacksonville, Fl — The Jacksonville Beach woman charged in a murder-for-hire plot of her ex-husband in 2022 will be represented by well-known attorney Jose Baez.

Shanna Gardner is accused of hiring a hitman to kill her former husband, Jared Bridegan, last year in Jacksonville Beach. Prosecutors say Gardner played a “key and central role” in the conspiracy to kill Bridegan.

Jose Baez is nationally known for representing Casey Anthony in 2011. She was acquitted in the murder of her daughter Caylee Anthony.

Baez also represented former UF and New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez as well as disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

Bridegan was shot and killed on Feb. 16, 2022 in Jacksonville Beach while his 2-year-old daughter he shared with his wife Kirsten Bridegan was in the car. He had just dropped off the twins he shared with Gardner at her home in Jacksonville Beach.

Police say he had stopped to remove a tire in the road that was intentionally placed there. The State Attorney’s Office called it a “murder-for-hire plot.”

In an exclusive interview with Action News Jax last year, Shanna Gardner denied involvement in Bridegan’s murder.

Gardner is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony, and child abuse.