Jared Bridegan
February 16, 2022
On February 16, 2022, at 7:59 p.m., Jacksonville Beach Police Department received calls reporting multiple gunshots in The Sanctuary Boulevard a residential area located in Jacksonville Beach, Florida (Duval County). One of the calls reported that a vehicle was blocking the road in the 4000 block of Sanctuary Blvd.
The caller stated that a white male was lying next to the vehicle and a toddler was crying in her car seat in the back rear of the passenger side of the vehicle. Witnesses removed the child from the vehicle.
Jared Bridegan Car
When officers arrived at 8:03 p.m., Bridegan was lying in the road with multiple appment gunshot wounds.
His vehicle was in park, running, with his hazard lights flashing.
First responding officers with JBPD attempted life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful, and Bridegan was pronounced dead on scene.
In front of Bridegan’s car, laying in the road and blocking his path of travel, was a damaged tire. The tire was placed in such a manner as to nearly block the path of travel, so that someone would have to either drive in the grass or move the tire in order to keep driving. The rim of the tire was identified as belonging to a 2004 Ford F-150 Lariat.
Jared Bridegan Body
The body was laying near the curb on the east side of the roadway.
A large pool of blood was observed to the right of the decedent’s head and had began coagulating.
Blood was visible soaking through the sheet and left hand and wrist sticking out from under the sheet resting on the left side/east curb of the roadway.
The fingers were curled inward with a silver and diamond ring which appeared to be a wedding band, on the decedent’s left ring finger, along with what appeared to be a black Apple Watch. There was what appeared to be dried blood on the hand.
The decedent’s feet were also sticking out from under the sheet. The decedent’s feet were crossed and it appeared he had been wearing one brown colored flip flop/sandal, while the other was laying nearby in the street.
The decedent’s feet were facing south and his head north.
Tire
Large tire was observed laying in the middle of the street, approximately ten to fifteen feet to the front of the vehicle. It appeared to be old and damaged.
- BF Goodrich Advantage TIA Sport LT.
- Size 265/60R 18
- DOT number- AP80 2T11
The rim is a size 18X7.5JX44. On the inside of the rim there are other numbers, C#0618043, 80471, and X5X3.
Bullets
There was two holes in the vehicle consistent with that of a projectile. One hole was in the center console/dash area to the lower right of the steering wheel.
The other appeared to be in the middle left area of the passenger side front door, under the window and close enough to cause the window glass to spider but not break out. There was several blood stains.
Casing Found
Item #1 (Underwood brand 10mm shell casing)
Item #3 (Underwood brand 10mm shell casing)
Casing Found
Item #2 (PPU brand 10mm shell casing)
Item #4 (PPU brand 10mm shell casing)
- Blood spots on the left side of the driver’s seat and interior frame of the driver side door.
- Looking into the vehicle, a small hole was observed in the center dash, with an entry point below and to the right of the steering wheel.
- The front passenger side window was shattered but still intact.
- A small hole was observed where the frame and glass meet, with a majority of the impact appearing to be in the metal frame.
- There were what appeared to be lines in the glass extending around the circumference of the center point of contact.
On the ground around the victim there was three bullet casings:
- two were north west slightly from the victim
- the other two appeared to be west and to the south slightly from the body.
- The two casings to the south of the body were in close proximity that they were easy to see and avoid.
- a silver colored projectile was located under the body.
3 projectiles were recovered.
- The first one was located on the passengers side front seat floor.
- The second projectile was located in the passengers side front door, inside the door.
- Once the body was moved and turned by the Medical Examiner a silver colored projectile was located under the body. As the Medical Examiner was assessing the body, it was observed two holes in the shirt in the area of the left shoulder.
Once the shirt was moved the hole to the left shoulder area observed. The North Florida Body removal team arrived and removed the body from the scene
Kirsten Bridegan Interview
Kirsten Bridegan founded the Bridegan Foundation in September 2022 after the tragic murder of her husband, Jared Bridegan, earlier in 2022.
7:39 PM: Kirsten stated that her brother called her at 19:39 hours. While they were talking, Jared called, and she merged him into the conversation. They all spoke for a few minutes before her brother hung up, leaving her and Jared to continue their conversation. The call with her brother lasted eight minutes, and the call with Jared did not appear on her phone log due to the merge. The conversation with Jared was on the car speaker. Jared mentioned that he had just dropped off Abigail and Liam and was on his way home. Bexley told her she was eating ice cream, and Jared clarified it was a Frosty from Wendy’s. They hung up, and when she tried to contact him later, he did not respond.
8:51 PM: Kirsten said she became worried because Jared had not yet made it home, and she began “blowing his phone up.”
Kirsten mentioned that the relationship between Jared’s ex-wife, Shanna, and her new husband, Mario Fernandez, was not a good one. She stated that Shanna was constantly filing legal actions regarding the children and often lied about Jared, portraying him as a bad father. Shanna and Mario, she said, would lie to the kids and try to make Jared look bad in their eyes. Kirsten described Mario as very controlling, trying to dictate everything.
Jared with Kids at Bearded Pigs
- 18:47 hours Jared arriving in the parking lot at Bearded Pigs Restaurant
- 18:48 hours He and the children enter the restaurant
- In the parking lot at 19:22 hours,
- 19:24 hours Subsequently leave the parking lot and heading south on 3rd Street.
Ex-Wife Shanna Gardner Interview
Detectives arrived at 15:11 Marsh Inlet Court to notify Shanna Lee Gardner, the victim’s ex-wife. contact was made with Gardner and Mario Enrique Fernando Saldana. Gardner was
informed her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan, was deceased. Gardner advised her divorce was not amicable and the two did not communicate much. Gardner stated the two would only communicate through text messages.
The only communication Gardner had with the victim was at 18:29 hours. The victim advised he was “here” to pick up his children for their date night.
Gardner advised the children went to Bearded Pig for dinner and Wendy’s for ice cream. The children were returned by the victim at 1945 hours. Gardner did not speak with the victim at this time.
Gardner stated she did not know if the victim had any issues with anyone, which would lead to his death. Gardner and Saldana advised they would be available if needed for the investigation.
Shanna Gardner Friend Interview
Saturday, February 19, 2022
At 10:31 hours, an interview with Currie was conducted on Saturday, February 19, 2022. Currie stated that she left her house, located in the Marshside area, at 19:50 hours. She was heading to pick up her daughter near the St. Johns Town Center. Currie mentioned that when she turned left onto the southbound lane of Sanctuary, there were two to four cars in front of her. She observed the lead vehicle, a black SUV, with its emergency lights on. She also noticed another vehicle, which she described as a “whitish, grayish, silver SUV.” Currie stated that a slender white male, wearing khaki shorts, exited this vehicle and approached the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle. She explained that the man paused, looked into the vehicle, then stopped. He then proceeded to the passenger side of the vehicle and stopped again. Currie remarked that this behavior seemed strange to her.
Currie further described the man as wearing a baseball cap. She also observed a white four-door vehicle in front of her. A white woman exited the passenger side of this vehicle and appeared confused about what was happening. At this point, Currie decided to reverse her vehicle and leave the area via South Beach Parkway. Currie mentioned that she knew of the victim and was friends with Shanna Gardner, his ex-wife. She also knew the victim’s older brother, though she couldn’t recall his name. Currie learned from friends that Jared Bridegan had been shot on Wednesday night.
Currie recounted that she had heard stories about the victim’s behavior from Shanna Gardner. She explained that her husband had been involved in an altercation with the victim at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Neptune Beach. Currie’s husband, who is the Bishop at the church, had to call the church’s legal services because the victim was upset that Currie and her husband had befriended Gardner. She described the victim as having a “hot head” and noted that he did not want Gardner invited to the church. However, she did not go into specifics about the argument.
Currie mentioned that Gardner had described the victim as controlling and impatient. She characterized the divorce and custody situation as contentious. Based on what she had heard about the victim, Currie speculated that his death might have been caused by road rage.
Currie went on to describe Gardner’s new husband, Mario, as nice but mentioned that she couldn’t see them becoming “best friends.” She was unsure if Mario and the victim had any negative interactions.
Jared Bridegan
Video Surveillance
Surveillance of Sanctuary Boulevard shows that vehicles freely passed through Sanctuary Boulevard before the murder, suggesting the tire in the roadway was a ruse to get Bridegan to stop.
Ford F-150 pickup truck spotted by three security cameras on Shetter Avenue. The tire found on the Road belonged to a 2004 Ford 150 Lariat. The car has running boards, brown trim, and a silver toolbox. The truck was seen driving on Shetter Ave, passing the Police department close to Shanna and Mario’s house.
The Evidence: Truck
The Night of The Murder
Surveillance Video – Blue Ford F-150
Surveillance of Sanctuary Boulevard shows that vehicles freely passed through Sanctuary Boulevard before the murder, suggesting the tire in the roadway was a ruse to get Bridegan to stop. The tire belonged to a 2004 Ford 150 Lariat. TENON drove a blue 2004 Ford 150 Lariat truck. His DNA has been identified on the tire recovered from the road on which Bridegan was murdered, and TENON admitted to owning the tire when shown a picture of it.
Investigators gathered surveillance video from the area of the murder, and it revealed the presence of a blue-Ford-150 pickup truck. TENON was shown surveillance pictures of the h·uck near the homicide scene and confined it was his truck. A surveillance picture of the truck, before the homicide, showed an item in the truck’s bed. When shown this photograph, TENON confirmed a spare tire in the truck’s bed. Additionally, the surveillance video revealed the truck traveling to and from the area of the murder about an hour before the murder, suggesting the driver might have been practicing the route. Security camera footage showed the truck driving in front of Bridegan’s car approximately 5 minutes before the murder and attempting to create space between the truck and Bridegan’s car – presumably in an attempt to time the placement of the tire so to block Bridegan and no other drivers.
- 6:25:33 p.m. 1712 Beach Boulevard: the truck traveled eastbound on Beach Boulevard. This location is .45 miles from 1511 Marsh Inlet Court, where Bridegan picked up and dropped his children off at the end of the night.
- 6:42:01 p.m. 3521 America Avenue: the truck traveled southbound on America A venue. This location is .19 miles from the crime scene.
- 6:43:06 p.m. 4067 America Ave: the truck traveled southbound on Sanctuary Parkway. The SUSPECT TRUCK slowed to a stop approximately where the murder took place. The truck continued southbound on Sanctuary Parkway, conducted a U-turn and slowed down on the opposite side of the road approximately where the murder took place.
- 6:44:59 p.m. 3940 Grande Boulevard: the truck traveled eastbound on Jacksonville Drive. The truck turned northbound on to South Beach Parkway and traveled to Shetter A venue.
- 6:52:48 p.m. 101 Penman Road South (JBPD): the truck traveled westbound toward 15111 Street South and Shetter Avenue. The truck continued westbound on Shetter and parked in a cul-de-sac in the 1600 Block of Shetter Avenue. This location is approximately .20 miles from GARDNER and FERNANDEZ SALDANA’s residence. The SUSPECT TRUCK sat in this location for approximately 19 minutes.
- 7:50 p.m. 2705 America Avenue: the SUSPECT TRUCK traveled southbound on America Avenue. The SUSPECT TRUCK was in front of Bridegan’s vehicle. The SUSPECT TRUCK appeared to be “tailgating” an unknown white truck, purportedly to create distance between Bridegan’s vehicle. This is merely two minutes prior to the recorded gunshots.
- 7:52:52 p.m. 4067 America Avenue (Captured video of murder in 4000 Block of Sanctuary Parkway): Bridegan’s vehicle was stopped in the road with the hazard lights activated. A person can be seen walking southbound seconds after the last shot is fired, and seconds later, running.
- 7:53:40 p.m. 3940 Grande Boulevard: Approximately one minute after the shooting, the SUSPECT TRUCK traveled eastbound on Jacksonville Drive.
- 7:56:41 p.m. 3940 Grande Boulevard: Approximately four minutes after the murder, an unidentified black male was observed walking northbound to the intersection of Jacksonville Drive and Grande Boulevard. The individual was wearing dark colored pants, tan shirt, boots, and a lightcolored hat.
- 8:00:09 p.m. (Actual)/ 8:17:09 p.m. (Time Stamp) 1600 Shetter Avenue: The SUSPECT TRUCK traveled westbound on Shetter Avenue. Once the SUSPECT TRUCK reached the cul-desac, it immediately turned around and traveled eastbound and left the frame. This location is .20 miles from GARDNER and FERNANDEZ SALDANA’s residence. The truck and the TENON were separated after the homicide.
- 8:13:33 p.m. South Beach Parkway and Rip Tide Boulevard: The male believes to be TENON walked northbound on South Beach Parkway. This location is approximately .46 miles from the intersection of Jacksonville Drive and Grande Boulevard.
Based on review of surveillance, that one of the TARGET SUBJECTS was driving the SUSPECT TRUCK after the homicide, while the male (believed to be TENON) was on foot.
Identity of Truck Owner and DNA from a tire
Henry Arthur Tenon DNA has been identified on the tire recovered from the road on which Bridegan was murdered, and Tenon admitted to owning the tire when shown a picture of it.
Investigation determined that The tire belonged to a 2004 Ford 150 Lariat. Henry Tenon drove a blue 2004 Ford 150 Lariat truck.
His DNA has been identified on the tire recovered from the road on which Bridegan was murdered, and Tenon admitted to owning the tire when shown a picture of it. Investigators gathered surveillance video from the area of the murder, and it revealed the presence of a blue-Ford-150 pickup truck.
Henry Arthur Tenon was shown surveillance pictures of the truck near the homicide scene and confined it was his truck. A surveillance picture of the truck, before the homicide, showed an item in the truck’s bed.
When shown this photograph, Henry Arthur Tenon confirmed a spare tire in the truck’s bed. Additionally, the surveillance video revealed the truck traveling to and from the area of the murder about an hour before the murder, suggesting the driver might have been practicing the route.
Security camera footage showed the truck driving in front of Bridegan’s car approximately 5 minutes before the murder and attempting to create space between the truck and Bridegan’s car – presumably in an attempt to time the placement of the tire so to block Bridegan and no other drivers.
case files
Murder Investigation
Jacksonville Police Reports
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Investigators Plan
Intercepted communications
Calls Warrant
Contact will be made with a friend of GARDNER’s, was a close friend of GARDNER’s for many years an t of GARDNER in the weeks immediately following the homicide, including being one of several calls GARDNER made after her interview with JBPD. has previously been contacted by JBPD and asserted that she was nna [GARDNER]” and expressed some dislike for Bridegan. Affiant believes that will call and infonn GARDNER about the contact, which might lead HER to contact FERNANDEZ SALDANA.
- A “leak” to targeted media personnel will be made to inform them that a “law enforcement source” confirms that there has been an “update,” “break,” and/or “additional information” is forthcoming regarding the homicide investigation
of Bridegan. Affiant believes this leak will incite the TARGET SUBJECTS to communicate with one another and potentially with outside persons regarding the investigation.
- JBPD will officially confirm to the media that a press conference will be held the following day to discuss this new info1mation. The confirmation will be intentionally vague, so as to trigger the TARGET SUBJECTS to theorize and discuss what this information could be and to potentially provoke action by the TARGET SUBJECTS in regards to physical evidence.
- JBPD will hold a press conference announcing the anest of TENON for the charges of Conspiracy to Connnit Murder, Murder, Tampering with Evidence, and Child Abuse.
- Following the press conference, members of Bridegan’s family will give select media interviews regarding the case concurrent with TENON’s first appearance.
- If these actions do not trigger or if Affiant develops other investigative techniques and avenues, Affiant will seek judicial approval from Judge Charbula.
- All intercepted communications will be minimized in accordance with the intent of Chapter 934, Florida Statutes
Cell Phone
Cell Phone Records
Cellphone Activity
Cellular telephone records connect the conspirators as well. Toll records show a significant increase in contact immediately before and after the murder compared to the otherwise sporadic contact between them in the six weeks before the murder. Phone contacts between Fernandez Saldana and showed a high number of contacts leading up to the murder and reder. The day before the murder, Fernandez Saldana called and sent texts to Tenon, and On the night of the murder, there were periods during phones of F DANA, TENON, and were not communicating with their corresponding networks – a noticeable data s markedly different from their normal usage records — suggesting the phones were turned off or placed in airplane mode not to send or receive calls or messages.
Tenon was known to can-y two phones. On the night of the murder, both phones had data location gaps that began before 6:00 PM and indicate the phones being turned off or placed in airplane mode. One of Tenon’s phones resumed connectivity about 40 minutes after the murder in the area of Beaches Baptist Hospital, which is approximately 1.4 miles from the murder scene.
The two phones attempted to contact each other during this time frame. Location data confirmed the phones were physically separated. Detectives believed this evidence indicated that TENON was on foot in possession of one of his phones seeking to connect back to the truck, where his other phone was.
- Device Tag #1584152919- (904) 801-7612 Hereafter, “TENON I.”
- Device Tag #1561556364 – (904) 442-0513 Hereafter, “TENON 2.”
In reviewing Tenon’s cellular telephone location data, two dates in January 2022 (January 5 and January 29, 2022) suggest TENON drove to Jacksonville Beach, in a strikingly similar route as the one used by Bridegan used on the evening of the murder.
Google provided location data for two unique devices – device tag: 1584152919 and device tag: 1561556364. An analysis of this data in conjunction with available toll records for TENON’s two phone numbers determined that (904) 801-7612 corresponded with Device Tag: -1584152919 (TENON 1) and (904) 442-0513 corresponded with Device Tag: -1561556364 (TENON 2) and both devices were in Jacksonville Beach the night of the murder.
Locations
Google Locations
Location History
Google provided location data for two unique devices – device tag: 1584152919 and device tag: 1561556364. An analysis of this data in conjunction with available toll records for TENON’s two phone numbers determined that (904) 801-7612 corresponded with Device Tag: -1584152919 (TENON 1) and (904) 442-0513 corresponded with Device Tag: -1561556364 (TENON 2) and both devices were in Jacksonville Beach the night of the murder.
Fernandez Saldana drove to 5239 Potomac Avenue (TENON’s residence) and left his phone at Potomac Avenue while he and TENON drove to the Bridegan residence, past the gymnastics studio, to the homicide scene, and then back to 5239 Potomac Ave., where Fernandez Saldana departed shortly after TENON’s device returned. Affiant bases this opinion on the following: (1) there was no legitimate reason discovered for the trip; Detectives questioned TENON regarding his regular work and social comings and goings, with no evidence that he would have any personal or work-related business in proximity to Bridegan’s residence; they did not stop anywhere other than locations associated with the homicide and the victim; and TENON would have no personal knowledge of Bridegan, his residence, or where his child went to gymnastics. This information could only have been provided by Fernandez Saldana
case files
Murder Investigation
Wiretap Warrant
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Investigation
Search Warrant and Friends Interviews
On June 28, investigators interviewed a friend of both Fernandez and Gardner. She recounted a conversation in which Gardner told her, “Mario offered to get four guys and break into Bridegan’s residence…to take care of him, and nobody would ever know.”
The friend also told investigators that Fernandez once told her, “You know I’ve killed people before.” She took that as a threat.
She said Gardner told her she only married Fernandez for child custody reasons, so that it would look good in court, and her parents would give her more money.
Investigators also interviewed a college friend of Fernandez, who dated him. She said Fernandez called her the night after the murder and said he knew who did it, and characterized it as a “hit and run.” She acknowledged that Mario had never made threats toward Bridegan.
On July 18, 2022, police went to a rental house in Jacksonville on Potomac Avenue owned by Fernandez, and there they talked to the current occupant and saw a spare tire leaning against the house. The renter said he’d found it on the curb and told police they could have it if they wanted.
As the detective was loading the tire into his truck, Henry Tenon drove up. There was a brief conversation about unrelated things.
Police later tested the tire and it matched the tire found at the murder scene, so they went back to Potomac Avenue. The current renter told police Tenon went to Georgia to get his father’s blue Ford pickup truck after his father died.
The investigators’ focus then narrowed onto Tenon, especially after police got hits on the truck all over Jacksonville.
Search Warrant
Search Warrant for 5239 Potomac Avenue Locations
Mario Fernandez Saldana Rental Property – Rented by Tenon
On October 6, 2022, a search warrant for 5239 Potomac Avenue was executed. Upon executing the search warrant, four occupants were found present in the residence Norma Davila, Devin Hightower, and Dane Hade were all located at the residence.
A search of the residence was conducted, and items of interest were collected. TENON 2 was located and gathered as evidence. Clothing was collected, including a pair of work boots matched to unknown male observed in the relevant surveillance.
One of TENON’s cellular phones, TENON 2 was recovered from the search was conducted at 5239 Potomac Avenue. A forensic download of TENON 2 was performed by JSO Digital Forensics Unit. Upon reviewing the files, an audio recording was discovered between and TENON.
3 :52 p.m. initiated a controlled call with Mario and informed him that ATF served a search warrant at 5239 Potomac ave. Fernandez Saldana asked if … received any contact information or a copy of the search warrant. Mario wanted to know what was taken from the residence. “Reducted” asked why a search warrant would be conducted at Potomac. Mario replied that he did not know and stated, “it does not make sense.” Fernandez Saldana apologized for having to deal with the situation. The call ended at 3:58 p.m.
Bank Records
Financial Records
Bank Transactions
About forty-five days after the murder, TENON deposited three checks written to him by Fernandez Saldana. One was for $2,000 deposited on March 28, 2022. The second was for $3,000 deposited on March 29, 2022. The third was for $5,000 deposited on April 4, 2022.
Tenon’s account generally held less than $400 and was often overdrawn. These deposits were abnormal when compared to his financial history. The checks were written on an account held by First Choice Home Rentals LLC. GARDNER and Fernandez Saldana are the listed owners.
First Choice Home Rentals receives incoming transfers from Gardner’s trust account, which her parents fund. During a search warrant executed at Fernandez Saldana Potomac Avenue address, police recovered a safe belonging to holding $2,000.00 cash, which was substantially more money than typically had, based on investigation. One of TENON’s phones was recovered from th ring the w udio recording was recovered from that phone which captured a conversation between and TENON. In the recording, TENON was heard discussing a money transfer to and TENON’s bro N explained that he was waiting for $5,000 to clear from the bank, and he would pay with that money.
The recording occurred two days after TENON deposited the last $ he received from Fernandez Saldana.
Shannan Records
Motive and Financial Transactions
Bank Transactions
Subpoenas were issued for all known bank accounts and credit cards for Fernandez Saldana and GARDNER. Their house was held jointly. All other accounts were held individually. GARDNER ran a small baking business out of her home. The majority of her income came from an Irrevocable Trust that was funded by GARDNER’s parents. Fernandez Saldana was listed as Trustee on the trust. It was further stated, “when our daughter, Shanna, shall have no further legal entanglements with her ex-husband, Jared G. Bridegan, she may elect to serve as the Trustee.” Fernandez Saldana also was listed as the owner of the two vehicles they possessed. Fernandez Saldana also relied on the trust as his primary source of income. He did receive a small amount of income from some rental properties and provided personal training out of his garage. Fernandez Saldana also applied for, and received, benefits from Veterans Administration for disability despite being ineligible due to his Less Than Honorable discharge.
GARDNER’s motive to murder Bridegan and the means to do so, Fernandez Saldana and his associates had the unique opportunity to murder him. Every other Wednesday night, Bridegan had dinner with his twins from his marriage with GARDNER and brought his 2 year-old daughter so she could get to know her half-siblings. On the night of his murder, Bridegan dropped the twins off at his ex-wife’s home in Jacksonville Beach after dinner and then headed to his own home in Nocatee. Fernandez Saldana and GARDNER knew Bridegan’s dinner schedule with his daughters. They knew when he would be coming to get his daughters and when he would be returning them. They also knew the route he would take to pick them up, and the route he would take after returning them. GARDNER and Fernandez Saldana’s Jacksonville beach residence was the last place Bridegan was seen alive before he was murdered.
GARDNER and Fernandez Saldana both knew of Bridegan’s particular driving pattern and routine at approximately the same time every Wednesday “Date Night,” as the routine was a habit between the two couples for the previous eight (8) months.
By 2022, and at the time of Bridegan’s murder, GARDNER and Fernandez Saldana were planing to divorce – even advising such to the twins’ school.
In reviewing financial records, investigators discovered the majority of GARDNER’s income cane through an irrevocable trust that GARDNER’s parents funded. Fernandez Saldana is the listed trustee. The trust language provides, “when
our daughter, Shanna, shall have no further legal entanglements with her ex-husband, Jared G. Bridegan, she may elect to serve as Trustee.” GARDNER and Fernandez Saldana have publicly (through legal counsel and the media) said they
live together as a married couple, but surveillance has revealed that they are separated and living in different states. Fernandez Saldana is Clmently living in Orlando, Florida.
GARDNER has moved to the State of Washington. She is currently living in a home valued over a million dollars that an LLC owned by her parents have purchased. Though she has not yet obtained a Washington state driver’s license, she has enrolled the twins in school. Her Jacksonville Beach home is not currently on the market, nor has it been leased- it sits empty.
The investigation into Jared Bridegan’s background revealed a bitter divorce from his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, and a strained relationship with both Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana. Gardner and Bridegan, who married in 2010 and divorced in 2015, shared custody of their nine-year-old twins. Gardner met Fernandez Saldana at her CrossFit gym in 2018, where he worked as a maintenance man. Up until the murder, Gardner and Bridegan shared equal custody of their children.
On October 14, 2022, investigators obtained Tenon’s financial records from PNC Bank and discovered three handwritten checks from Fernandez Saldana.
Further analysis of Tenon’s phone records revealed 35 phone contacts with Fernandez Saldana in February, 30 in March, and 5-9 in May and June.
Bank records showed three handwritten checks that Fernandez wrote to Tenon.
Monday August 22, 2022
Biggerstaff Interview
Mario’s friend
Suspect identified as Target #5 John Biggerstaff admitted that he owned a 10mm caliber gun but said he did not know where it was. A 10mm gun was used to murder Bridegan. John Biggerstaff served with the Navy for 22 years. He told officers that Saldana dated his daughter in high school and that he and the younger man became work out partners for years before Saldana left for the Army. Biggerstaff said that he and Fernandez Saldana had reconnected when the younger man returned to Jacksonville Beach following his brief stint in the Army.
At the time Biggerstaff was running a handyman business and did some work at the rental property at which Tenon was tenant. He told officers he had not seen Tennon for ‘a year or two’ and that he ‘did not really know’ him.
Device ID’s:
Google Account ID: 291875041229
- Name: Osiris Verge
- Phone: (904) 945-0945
Google Account ID: 93549354480
- Name: Zoraida Verge
- Phone: (904) 600-2995
Google Account ID: 564385545556
- Name: Donald G Crews
- Phone: (904) 614-9511
During this investigation it was discovered (from Biggerstaff’s phone records) that on February 17, 2022, at approximately 1352, Biggerstaff had driven to Naval Station Mayport. Specifically, Biggerstaff went to Outdoor Adventures on Naval Station Mayport. Biggerstaff rented 40 chairs., 5 tables, 1 canopy, 4 canopy sides and 1 cooler.
January 26, 2022
Biggerstaff searched for 10mm Glock pistol and 9mm S&W pistol on January 26, 2022 at 0115 hours. He then visited guns.com and viewed details about a Glock 20 Gen4 (10mm pistol.)Biggerstaff began describing his knowledge of Shanna Gardner. Biggerstaff advised he made a comment about how perfect Gardner’s butt was and that was the last time they talked about Gardner. Biggerstaff advised Saldana recently came to him and advised he was getting a divorce. Biggerstaff advised Saldana described Gardner as being an ex-Mormon and spoke about the court issues between the victim and Gardner. Biggerstaff advised he did not know Saldana and Gardner were even married for a year. Biggertaff would go to describe the first time him and his wife met Gardner.
Biggerstaff stated they went to the beach. After the beach, Saldana invited them to go back to the house for a barbeque. Biggerstaff’s wife did not want to go and this was the last time he saw Gardner. Biggerstaff would go to describe his conversations with Saldana and Gardner about this divorce. Biggerstaff advised Saldana’s reason for the divorce was over a disagreement with how to raise the children. Biggerstaff would further describe the issues with the victim and the constant court appearances. Saldana informed Biggerstaff he was going to buy a toy hualer to live in.
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- John Biggerstaff – Murder of Jared-Bridegan
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- John Biggerstaff – Murder of Jared-Bridegan
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- John Biggerstaff – Murder of Jared-Bridegan
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- John Biggerstaff – Murder of Jared-Bridegan
Arrest
Jan. 25, 2023, Jacksonville Beach PD Chief Gene Paul Smith and State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced the arrest of Henry Arthur Tenon, 61, on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder with a weapon, accessory after the fact to a capital felony, and child abuse.
On January 25, 2023, a significant development shook the quiet community of Jacksonville Beach. The city’s Police Department Chief, Gene Paul Smith, alongside State Attorney Melissa Nelson, held a press conference to announce a shocking arrest. Henry Arthur Tenon, a 61-year-old man, had been taken into custody. The charges against him were grave: conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder with a weapon, accessory after the fact to a capital felony, and child abuse for the Feb. 16, 2022, execution in north Florida.
February 1, 2023, Melissa Nelson, State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District, announced the major break in the case at a press conference. “We know that Tenon did not act alone,” she said. Her office formally filed the charging document against him on Feb. 1. The document details that Tenon “on or between January 4, 2022, and February 16, 2022…did agree, conspire, combine or confederate with other human beings to, unlawfully and from a premeditated design, effect the death of Jared Bridegan.”
Henry Tenon was renting 5239 Potomac Ave Jacksonville, FL 32254 from Mario Fernandez. Mario Fernandez purchased this house on March 30, 2017, and sold this house on October 18, 2022
Charges:
- MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE WITH A WEAPON
- CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE
- ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT (IF OFFENSE IS CAPITAL FELONY, ACCESSORY
- OFFENSE IS FIRST-DEGREE FELONY)
- CHILD ABUSE
After Detective analyzed Tenon’s financial records from PNC Bank on October 14, 2022, they found three handwritten checks were discovered from Fernandez Saldana. 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. Gardner and Bridegan were married in 2010 and divorced in 2015. They shared custody of the nine-year-old twins. Shanna
Gardner met her second husband Fernandez Saldana at her CrossFit gym in 2018, where Mario Fernandez Saldana was a maintenance man. Up until the murder, Gardner shared equal custody of her children with Bridegan. After receiving Tenon’s
phone records showed that Tenon and Fernandez Saldana had 35 phone contacts in February, 30 in March, and 5-9 in May and June.
March 16, 2023 Henry Tenon, a handyman for Fernandez, pleaded guilty to murdering Bridegan. Tenon admitted his role in the killing in exchange for cooperating against Fernandez “as part of the plea agreement to testify truthfully against
those he worked with to murder Jared Bridegan,” Nelson said. Tenon was promised a prison sentence of 15 years to life. He had been charged two months earlier with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after
the fact and child abuse for his role in the slaying. He was the first suspect arrested in the case.
Read More
case files
Murder Investigation
ATF Case File
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March 16, 2023 Arrests
On March 16, Tenon pleaded guilty to the charges against him. In a surprising twist, he agreed to cooperate with the authorities and testify against another individual tied to the case—Mario Fernandez Saldana.
The news sent ripples through the community, but the story didn’t end there. Following a thorough investigation, arrests were made, including Henry Tenon, Fernandez Saldana, and Gardner, across multiple locations.
That same day, March 16, 2023 in Orlando, police arrested Saldana, a 34-year-old man with a deep connection to the case.
Saldana was the husband of Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife, a detail that only added layers to the unfolding drama. The charges against him were even more severe than those against Tenon: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony, and child abuse.
Arrest
Prosecutors announced Mario Fernandez Saldana was indicted by a grand jury Thursday morning and arrested in Kissimmee, Fla. His arrest came hours after a man previously charged in Bridegan’s killing, Henry Tenon, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the crime.
Fernandez was indicted on first-degree murder, child abuse and other charges. State Attorney Nelson the “investigation remains active and ongoing and has not stopped today with the arrest of Mario Fernandez.”
Prosecutors announced Mario Fernandez Saldana was indicted by a grand jury Thursday morning and arrested in Kissimmee, Fla. His arrest came hours after a man previously charged in Bridegan’s killing, Henry Tenon, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the crime.
Fernandez was indicted on first-degree murder, child abuse and other charges.
State Attorney Nelson the “investigation remains active and ongoing and has not stopped today with the arrest of Mario Fernandez.”
Per arrest warrant:
- bank records showed three handwritten checks that Fernandez wrote to Tenon.
Phone records between Tenon and Fernandez:
- 35 phone contacts in February,
- 30 contacts in March
- 9 contacts in May and June, 2022.
State Attorney Melissa Nelson said a Fourth Circuit Grand Jury returned the following indictments against Fernandez Saldana:
- First-degree murder: Punishable by death or mandatory sentence of life in prison
- Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder: Punishable by up to 30 years in prison
- Solicitation to commit a capital felony: Punishable by up to 30 years in prison
- Child abuse: This charge stems from the fact that Bridegan’s then-2-year-old daughter Bexley was directly in harm’s
- way during the shooting.
The totality of evidence establishes that Fernandez Saldana was a principal to Bridegan’s murder and that Fernandez Saldana solicited, conspired with, and assisted others involved in Bridegan’s murder, and that the circumstances of the murder reasonably could have been expected to cause physical or mental injury to B.B. while she was in Bridegan’s vehicle.
Mario Fernandez-Saldana Arrested, Indicted for Murder of Jared Bridegan Press Release
Shanna Gardner booked October 20, 2023, in Jacksonville, FL and charged with murdering the father of four. Prosecutors in Florida are seeking the death penalty.
Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife on first-degree murder charges in the conspiracy that led to his ambush shooting last year. A grand jury in Florida indicted Shanna Gardner and was later arrested in Washington state and charged with murder
in FL
On February 23, 2022, one week after Bridegan’s murder and precisely seven years after she filed for dissolution of their marriage, a suggestion of death [Bridegan’s death] appeared in the records of their dissolution case with the St. Johns County Clerk of Court. By all accounts, in the months and years preceding the murder, GARDNER wanted to leave the State of Florida with her children.
However, her dissolution decree prevented her from leaving the state permanently with her children without an agreement from Bridegan or a court order. With Bridegan’s death, she became free to leave the state with her children- which
she has done. And with no legal entanglements with “her ‘ex-husband”‘, she now also can control her trust funds.
Shanna Gardner — has now been charged with murdering the father of four. Prosecutors in Florida are seeking the death penalty.
Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife on first-degree murder charges in the conspiracy that led to his ambush shooting last year.
A grand jury in Florida indicted Shanna Gardner and was later arrested in Washington state.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents arrested her in West Richland, Washington, where she moved with the twins she shared with Bridegan. ATF’s Jacksonville field office had been assisting Jacksonville Beach Police Department detectives since early in the investigation.
Gardner will be extradited to Duval County to face the charges which also include a solicitation to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and child abuse.
Mario’s indictment said he plotted the murder within the four months leading to Bridgegan’s death, but Garnder’s indictment said she may have been scheming to kill Bridegan as early as May 2015 a few months before their divorce was finalized.
Thursday morning, August 17, 2023 Police executed a federal search warrant at Gardner’s home and car in West Richland, Washington. Shanna was detained during the search, while her mother and children, who were also present in the home, were supervised by the police.
Upon arrival, officers seized Gardner’s Apple Watch and iPhone.
The investigation report notes that officers informed an individual (whose name was redacted) that they were specifically searching for phones. The individual responded, “Like burner phones?”
One of Gardner’s children mentioned to police that she kept “important” electronics in her bedroom closet, according to the report.
During the search, police confiscated a Wingtech cell phone, an Acer laptop, a tablet, two Apple MacBooks, and a T-Mobile SIM card. The phone found on Gardner and the Apple Watch were also taken as evidence.
Shanna Gardner-Fernandez was taken into custody on the morning of Thursday, August 17, at her home on Laurel Drive by ATF agents from Yakima and Jacksonville. She was later booked into the Benton County Jail for her alleged involvement in the February 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Authorities report that Bridegan was shot multiple times on a one-way road while driving home. The man accused of carrying out the shooting has already been arrested.
Bodycam Footage of Shanna Gardner’s Arrest
Case 16-2023-CF-002862-BXXX-MA
State of Florida v. Shanna Lee Gardner
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