Why Did It Take So Long To Arrest Jared Bridegan’s Ex-Wife?
Aug 24, 2023, 05:00 PM
In a NOT so shocking development, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez has been arrested in connection with the murder of Jared Bridegan. This comes months after the arrest of her new husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, and the hitman Henry Tenon, who had already accepted a plea deal, shedding light on the intricate web of conspiracy behind this tragic killing.
As discussed on the popular podcast "Hidden Killers," hosted by Tony Brueski and featuring insights from former FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, the arrest has prompted many questions. "It's been what, six, seven months or so since the arrest of Mario in this, and now her. She finally is arrested," Brueski mused. Given the relationships between the individuals involved - the victim being Gardner-Fernandez's ex-husband and Saldana allegedly ordering the hit - suspicions were rife from the start. Coffindaffer added, "I think right off the bat we all looked at this and went, well, it's her ex-husband and her current husband did the hit... She has to be involved in some way, shape, or form."
The authorities initially focused on Tenon, the hitman, securing his cooperation through a plea deal. Coffindaffer commended the approach, saying, "You always want to start with the lowest common denominator and dial in on him... but for the order of the hit, it is unlikely he would've just summarily gone out and killed Mr. Bridegan."
Subsequent to Tenon's arrest, Saldana's detainment provided further evidence from his electronic devices. As Coffindaffer elucidated, "We know after they arrested him, they just were able to get so much more information from his cellular phone, from his computers, from conducting those search warrants." This pivotal data - possibly including bank statements and communication records - became the linchpin in finally implicating Gardner-Fernandez in the crime. As Coffindaffer pointed out, "All they need are two overt acts on her part and they've got her. That combined with proof of the conspiracy."
Yet, the delay in her arrest suggests investigators were treading cautiously, amassing incontrovertible evidence. Brueski hypothesized, "Do you assume that over the course of the last many months, they've been watching her like a hawk in every single move that she makes and every single thing that she says?" Interestingly, Coffindaffer noted that Gardner-Fernandez had relocated from Florida, possibly in a calculated move to distance herself from the crime scene and potential witnesses.
Despite her relocation, it seems unlikely that law enforcement maintained constant surveillance on Gardner-Fernandez. "I don't believe law enforcement would've been surveilling her and on top of her in that regard," Coffindaffer stated. But, she conceded, they were likely monitoring "phone records, I think, to see who she might've been communicating with so that they could interview them."
This case serves as a stark reminder of the increasingly digital age we live in, where evidence isn't just based on eye-witness accounts or physical clues but is often "digitally extracted," as Coffindaffer aptly puts it. The twists and turns of the Bridegan murder case have kept the public on the edge of their seats, and as the trial progresses, even more shocking details are sure to emerge.
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
As discussed on the popular podcast "Hidden Killers," hosted by Tony Brueski and featuring insights from former FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, the arrest has prompted many questions. "It's been what, six, seven months or so since the arrest of Mario in this, and now her. She finally is arrested," Brueski mused. Given the relationships between the individuals involved - the victim being Gardner-Fernandez's ex-husband and Saldana allegedly ordering the hit - suspicions were rife from the start. Coffindaffer added, "I think right off the bat we all looked at this and went, well, it's her ex-husband and her current husband did the hit... She has to be involved in some way, shape, or form."
The authorities initially focused on Tenon, the hitman, securing his cooperation through a plea deal. Coffindaffer commended the approach, saying, "You always want to start with the lowest common denominator and dial in on him... but for the order of the hit, it is unlikely he would've just summarily gone out and killed Mr. Bridegan."
Subsequent to Tenon's arrest, Saldana's detainment provided further evidence from his electronic devices. As Coffindaffer elucidated, "We know after they arrested him, they just were able to get so much more information from his cellular phone, from his computers, from conducting those search warrants." This pivotal data - possibly including bank statements and communication records - became the linchpin in finally implicating Gardner-Fernandez in the crime. As Coffindaffer pointed out, "All they need are two overt acts on her part and they've got her. That combined with proof of the conspiracy."
Yet, the delay in her arrest suggests investigators were treading cautiously, amassing incontrovertible evidence. Brueski hypothesized, "Do you assume that over the course of the last many months, they've been watching her like a hawk in every single move that she makes and every single thing that she says?" Interestingly, Coffindaffer noted that Gardner-Fernandez had relocated from Florida, possibly in a calculated move to distance herself from the crime scene and potential witnesses.
Despite her relocation, it seems unlikely that law enforcement maintained constant surveillance on Gardner-Fernandez. "I don't believe law enforcement would've been surveilling her and on top of her in that regard," Coffindaffer stated. But, she conceded, they were likely monitoring "phone records, I think, to see who she might've been communicating with so that they could interview them."
This case serves as a stark reminder of the increasingly digital age we live in, where evidence isn't just based on eye-witness accounts or physical clues but is often "digitally extracted," as Coffindaffer aptly puts it. The twists and turns of the Bridegan murder case have kept the public on the edge of their seats, and as the trial progresses, even more shocking details are sure to emerge.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com