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Arrest made in murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan
The widow of a Microsoft executive who was shot and killed in an ambush shooting last year has spoken out to say that she is “not surprised” by the sudden arrest of his ex-wife on suspicion of murder.
Jared Bridegan, 33, was shot dead after dropping off his two children at his ex-wife Shanna Gardner’s home near Jacksonville, Florida. A third child — Mr Bridegan’s with his second wife — was in the car at the time of the shooting and was uninjured.
Mario Fernandez, Ms Gardner-Fernandez’s second husband, was arrested in March and was charged with orchestrating the murder by hiring Henry Tenon, a tenant residing in one of his properties, to kill Mr Bridegan. Mr Tenon has admitted to shooting the executive.
In a major break on Thursday, police annonced that Ms Gardner had been indicted on a first-degree murder charge and is accused of conspiring to have her husband killed.
Following the announcement, Gardner’s widow Kirsten Gardner revealed that she had suspicions about his ex-wife for some time. “I’m not surprised, to be honest,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Jared Bridegan’s widow pleads for her children to be reunited with half-sisters
Kristen Bridegan told reporters that Jared’s children with his ex-wife, twins Abby and Liam, had been “kept away and isolated from us” while living with their mother, stepfather and maternal grandparents.
“Despite my constant requests to see or speak to them, I have been denied and continuously ignored,” she said through tears.
“I plead with the Gardners to put the emotional and mental well-being of Liam and Abby above all else and allow them to reconnect with us. We are their family, we love them… Let our children be siblings again and put them first and do what’s right.”
Oliver O’Connell18 August 2023 17:45
Recap: Ex-wife of slain Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan charged with first degree murder
The ex-wife of slain Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, who was fatally shot by a gunman as he drove home with his two-year-old daughter, has been arrested and charged with his murder.
Shanna Gardner-Fernandez was arrested in Washington state on Thursday and will be extradited back to Duval County, Florida, where she has been indicted by a grand jury on a charge of first-degree murder and child abuse.
“We promised at the outset of this investigation we would not relent until we uncovered the truth of Jared’s murder, the whole and entire truth,” State Attorney Melissa Nelson told reporters.
Oliver O’Connell18 August 2023 16:39
Toddler in Jared Bridegan’s car narrowly avoided being hit by gunfire
Jared Bridegan’s toddler, who was in the car with him on the night of his murder, reportedly narrowly avoided being hit by gunfire.
Mr Bridegan was returning home after dropping two of his children off at his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez’s home, when his path was blocked by a tire in the road. When he exited his car to move the tire, a gunman emerged and shot him.
Though Mr Bridegan’s daughter — a child he had with his second wife — was in the car, she was unharmed. However, investigators found bullets had entered the car’s interior just inches away from where the toddler was seated.
Oliver O’Connell18 August 2023 15:30
Shanna Gardner-Fernandez’s comments following ex-husband’s murder
Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, the ex-wife of Jared Bridegan, sat for an interview following her ex-husband’s murder, during which she expressed sadness that he had been killed, stating that he was “still the father of my children.”
“Any time divorce comes into any situation it’s messy,” she told WJAX in July 2022 following his murder.
“Even though we didn’t always get along, he was still the father of my kids,” she said, claiming she “fell to the floor because I was devastated” when she learned he had been killed.
She has now been charged with first degree murder relating to the death of Mr Bridegan.
Ms Gardner-Fernandez insisted at the time she had no idea who carried out the murder.
Oliver O’Connell18 August 2023 14:26
Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan was shot dead in a chilling ambush. Did his ex wife arrange it?
Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Ferenandez, has been charged with his murder.
Though she did not pull the trigger the night he was gunned down outside his car, investigators believe a spiteful divorce led to her orchestrating, along with her new husband and a gunman, the murder of her ex-husband.
Here is everything you need to know about the murder of Jared Bridegan.
Graeme Massie18 August 2023 13:01
Kristen Bridegon says she always felt ex-wife was responsible
“From very, very early on, everything in my body and soul told me she was behind it,” Kristen Bridegan told reporters after it was announced Shanna Garner-Fernandez had been arrested and charged with the murder of Jared Bridegan.
Jared Bridegan, with his wife Kristen, was shot dead in Jacksonville Beach on 16 February 2022
(Courtesy of Brigaden family)
Graeme Massie18 August 2023 12:03
Parents of Shanna Gardner-Fernandez issues statement on arrest
The Kirton McConkie Law Firm in Salt Lake City, Utah, issued a statement on behalf of Ms Fernandez-Gardner’s parents, Shelli and Sterling Gardner.
“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,” it read.
“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.”
Jared Bridegan’s widow, Kristen Bridegon, told reporters she was desperate for the grandparents to allow her husband’s two children from his marriage to the suspect to be reunited with their half-sisters.
Kirsten Bridegan, Jared Bridegan, and children in family picture before he was shot dead in Jacksonville Beach
(Family photo / Facebook)
Graeme Massie18 August 2023 10:03
Who is Henry Tenon?
Mr Tenon, 62, was charged on 25 January with conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder with a weapon, accessory after the fact to a capital felony and child abuse. Authorities say that he was a former tenant of Mr Fernandez. He has a long criminal history and was already behind bars awaiting trial on unrelated charges.
Police announced on 16 March that Mr Fernandez had been arrested in Orlando and he was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse.
On the same day, it was announced that Mr Tenon had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against him and anyone else potentially involved in the killing.
The state attorney said that Mr Tenon had admitted that he was the gunman and he faces up to 15 years in prison under the plea agreement.
Mr Fernandez pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in July and prosecutors say that he will not be offered a plea deal. According to the indictment, he wrote Tenon three checks and phone records show the men made more than 70 phone calls to each other before and after the killing.
An old booking photo of Henry Tenon, 62, who has been charged with second-degree murder connected to the 2022 death of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach, Florida
(Florida Department of Corrections)
Graeme Massie18 August 2023 07:56
Officials have not said what led to Shanna Gardner-Fernandez’s arrest
“Henry Tenon did not act alone. Mario Fernandez did not plan alone. And Shanna Gardner’s indictment acknowledges her central and key role in the cold, calculated and premeditated murder of Jared Bridegan,” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson on Thursday.
Jared Bridegan was dropping his eldest twins off at his ex-wife’s home when he was murdered
(Courtesy of Bridegan family)
Graeme Massie18 August 2023 07:07
Authorities have not given motive for murder
Authorities have not given a motive for the murder, but an arrest warrant states “the investigation into Bridegan’s background revealed a highly acrimonious divorce from his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, and a contentious relationship with both Gardner and Fernandez Saldana.”
Shanna Gardner-Fernandez charged with murder of ex-husband Jared Bridegan
(CBS47)
Graeme Massie18 August 2023 06:01
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