Murdered Microsoft Exec's Ex-Wife Extradited & Formally Charged With Murder
Sep 18, 2023, 11:00 AM
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the extradition order for Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, 35, from Washington state to Florida to face charges in a gripping murder plot. Gardner-Fernandez, heir to a multimillion-dollar papercraft business, is accused of orchestrating the execution-style murder of her ex-husband, 33-year-old Microsoft executive, Jared Bridegan.
Jared Bridegan was shot multiple times in an alleged ambush in February 2022 on a secluded Jacksonville Beach road. The incident took place shortly after Bridegan dropped off the twins he shared with Gardner-Fernandez at her residence.
Tragically, the Microsoft senior UX designer was gunned down in the presence of his two-year-old daughter from a subsequent marriage. The chilling act was committed in an area surrounded by dense trees, with no security cameras to record the heinous crime.
“Jared was lured to his death. For the murder to happen in that specific area, it’s clear someone had planned it. There are no cameras or houses there, just trees on a one-way street,” expressed Kirsten, Bridegan's widow, in an interview with DailyMail.com.
The 61-year-old hitman, Danny Tenon, previously a tenant of Gardner-Fernandez's current husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, admitted to the murder. Tenon disclosed that he had been contracted by Saldana-Fernandez for the crime. After his arrest on unrelated charges, Tenon also revealed his willingness to testify against his alleged co-conspirators.
Gardner-Fernandez, previously of Jacksonville, had shifted about 2,800 miles to the Pacific Northwest, after the incident, an area known for not having the death penalty. Law enforcement officials in Florida have, however, signified their intention to seek the death penalty for her crimes.
Many are closely watching this case, not just for its dramatic elements but due to the political implications with Governor DeSantis' involvement. The Jacksonville State Attorney’s Office confirmed to DailyMail.com that the extradition order had been signed, sidelining an extradition hearing previously scheduled for Gardner-Fernandez.
The charges facing Gardner-Fernandez include first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Notably, if found guilty, she might be subjected to the death penalty in Florida, where five executions have already been conducted this year.
High-profile criminal defense attorney Hank Coxe, representing Gardner-Fernandez, previously declared intentions to contest the extradition. The warrant for her extradition is currently en route to Benton County, Washington.
Gardner-Fernandez’s association with her new husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, and the ensuing dramatic transformation in her behavior raised eyebrows among acquaintances. Once known as a straight-laced individual, she evolved into someone significantly bolder, even shocking tattoo parlor staff in 2015 with a request for a genital piercing.
The motivations behind this murder are speculated to revolve around a bitter custody battle over twins Liam and Abby, following the couple's separation in 2015.
Kirsten Bridegan expressed her sentiments regarding Gardner-Fernandez's arrest, stating, “There is satisfaction in knowing that the person I believe was the driving force behind this doesn’t get the privileges that she allegedly took from Jared. I trust the prosecutors to make the best decision for the case, and if that is the death penalty, then we support that.”
The trial for Gardner-Fernandez is set to resume in Florida on October 5th. The case continues to attract significant attention due to its intricate ties of family, betrayal, and the weighty legal consequences involved.
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Jared Bridegan was shot multiple times in an alleged ambush in February 2022 on a secluded Jacksonville Beach road. The incident took place shortly after Bridegan dropped off the twins he shared with Gardner-Fernandez at her residence.
Tragically, the Microsoft senior UX designer was gunned down in the presence of his two-year-old daughter from a subsequent marriage. The chilling act was committed in an area surrounded by dense trees, with no security cameras to record the heinous crime.
“Jared was lured to his death. For the murder to happen in that specific area, it’s clear someone had planned it. There are no cameras or houses there, just trees on a one-way street,” expressed Kirsten, Bridegan's widow, in an interview with DailyMail.com.
The 61-year-old hitman, Danny Tenon, previously a tenant of Gardner-Fernandez's current husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, admitted to the murder. Tenon disclosed that he had been contracted by Saldana-Fernandez for the crime. After his arrest on unrelated charges, Tenon also revealed his willingness to testify against his alleged co-conspirators.
Gardner-Fernandez, previously of Jacksonville, had shifted about 2,800 miles to the Pacific Northwest, after the incident, an area known for not having the death penalty. Law enforcement officials in Florida have, however, signified their intention to seek the death penalty for her crimes.
Many are closely watching this case, not just for its dramatic elements but due to the political implications with Governor DeSantis' involvement. The Jacksonville State Attorney’s Office confirmed to DailyMail.com that the extradition order had been signed, sidelining an extradition hearing previously scheduled for Gardner-Fernandez.
The charges facing Gardner-Fernandez include first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Notably, if found guilty, she might be subjected to the death penalty in Florida, where five executions have already been conducted this year.
High-profile criminal defense attorney Hank Coxe, representing Gardner-Fernandez, previously declared intentions to contest the extradition. The warrant for her extradition is currently en route to Benton County, Washington.
Gardner-Fernandez’s association with her new husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, and the ensuing dramatic transformation in her behavior raised eyebrows among acquaintances. Once known as a straight-laced individual, she evolved into someone significantly bolder, even shocking tattoo parlor staff in 2015 with a request for a genital piercing.
The motivations behind this murder are speculated to revolve around a bitter custody battle over twins Liam and Abby, following the couple's separation in 2015.
Kirsten Bridegan expressed her sentiments regarding Gardner-Fernandez's arrest, stating, “There is satisfaction in knowing that the person I believe was the driving force behind this doesn’t get the privileges that she allegedly took from Jared. I trust the prosecutors to make the best decision for the case, and if that is the death penalty, then we support that.”
The trial for Gardner-Fernandez is set to resume in Florida on October 5th. The case continues to attract significant attention due to its intricate ties of family, betrayal, and the weighty legal consequences involved.
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, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, 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