In February 2010, Jared Bridegan and Shanna Gardner met through Jared’s brother’s wife. Intrigued by Shanna, Jared flew out to Utah to take her on their first date. Their connection was instant, and within just two months, they decided to marry, marking the beginning of their life together. Their whirlwind romance quickly evolved into a marriage that would later play a significant role in the story of Jared’s life.

Shortly after GARDNER and Bridegan were married, Shelli Gardner’s family trust entered into a scholarship and stipend agreement with Shanna Gardner and Jared Bridegan. Under The agreement Jared Bridegan received higher education expenses through a monthly stipend. To receive proceeds under the agreement, Bridegan was required to be an active Mormon Church member and remain married to Gardner. This stipend amounted to $8,500 per month and included healthcare coverage equivalent to the benefits received by Stampin’ Up employees.

Throughout their marriage, the Gardners provided substantial financial support to Shanna and Jared. In 2011 The Gardners gifted the mortgage of a home, amounting to almost $370,000. In 2013, Gardner redeemed an interest in one of the umbrella companies of Stampin’ Up for $440,000. Between 2011 and 2014, Gardner and Bridegan received cash gifts of $25,000 from the Gardners on several occasions. The Gardners also set up trusts for the twins in Bridegan’s name.

Divorce from Shanna Gardner

June 30, 2014 They moved from CT to FL, staying with Jared’s parents. Later They bought $800,000 house in Ponte Vedra Beach south of Jacksonville.

July 1, 2014 they finally moved in into their home. In her Blog Shanna writes:

“Since moving to sea level and/or the sildenafil working Liam has made an remarkable amount of progress. The pressure in his heart has decreased and his lungs are much more relaxed, ultimately this is probably from being at sea level. Because he has shown so much improvement in such a short time the specialist is very hopeful that he will be able to realistically manage his disease with medications.”

For the Holidays Jared Bridegan bought Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, a package of training sessions. Shanna stopped going to church and started zealously working out. It is said that she became frustrated with Jared who had gained weight and was trying to get his businesses off the ground.

The fresh start failed and the couple drifted further apart. Jared remained a devout LDS member, while Shanna moved further away from their religion.

During her marriage to Jared, Shanna Gardner met a trainer at the gym and became involved with him. This connection made her realize that she had deeper feelings for the trainer than she did for her husband. This emotional shift contributed to the strain in her relationship with Jared, eventually leading to their separation.

Shanna had joined a CrossFit gym after Jared bought her some PT sessions as a gift.

She allegedly began an affair with the personal trainer.

Jared found some emails between the two. He confronted her, and she told him she didn’t love him anymore.

Jared told his family members “‘I don’t recognize this person. I married a totally different person.’”

Jared had always believed in the sanctity of marriage, but as time went on, things between him and Shanna started to unravel. Shanna, a confident and driven woman, had always been focused on her career and personal goals. Jared admired her for that, but over the last few months, he noticed a shift in her demeanor. She became distant, emotionally withdrawing from their relationship. The once-strong bond they shared seemed to be fraying at the edges.

The tipping point came when Jared noticed Shanna’s increasing attachment to her personal trainer at the gym. It wasn’t long before Shanna told Jared she wanted a divorce. She insisted that it had nothing to do with infidelity. “We just don’t love each other anymore,” she explained, denying any affair. But Jared couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story.

Heartbroken and confused, Jared reached out to Mallary, a mutual friend who had always been a good listener. In a late-night email, he poured out his thoughts. “In the past 3 months, Shanna has become really distant and got emotionally attached to her personal trainer at the gym. And now she’s divorcing me. But she has her agency, so I just need to move on and find someone to be my best friend again, ya know.”

The divorce, however, was far from amicable. What started as a mutual decision quickly spiraled into a bitter and contentious battle. The court file grew thicker by the day, with over 300 entries detailing the accusations and counteraccusations between the two. Shanna accused Jared of “disturbing and abusive behavior,” alleging that he regularly interrogated their children, coaching them on what to say and then recording their statements. She claimed Jared threatened to use these recordings against her, painting a picture of a man desperate to maintain control.

Jared, on the other hand, alleged that Shanna had locked him out of the master bedroom, treating him with disdain and disrespect in front of their children. He also accused her of installing surveillance devices throughout their home, a move he saw as a violation of his privacy and a sign of her growing mistrust.

As the court proceedings dragged on, it became clear that the divorce would leave deep scars on both Jared and Shanna. What had started as a marriage filled with love and promise had deteriorated into a battlefield of accusations and hurt. In the end, neither side emerged unscathed, and the children found themselves caught in the middle of a war they never asked to be a part of.

Jared knew that moving on wouldn’t be easy, but he also understood that he couldn’t dwell on the past. He had to pick up the pieces of his life and find a way to rebuild, hoping that one day he would find someone who could be his best friend again.

After his divorce, Jared got engaged to Emily V. but the relationship didn’t work out, and Emily eventually moved back to Utah.

The couple’s story began in the digital world in 2017, where they first met on a dating app Mutual, which is for singles, who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From the moment she saw his profile, she knew there was something special about him. “What first struck me was his profile picture. It was of him with his twins,” she recalled, the image of Jared with his children leaving a lasting impression on her.

Their connection was instant, and it wasn’t long before Jared was making the effort to see her in person. Despite the distance between them—Jared lived in Jacksonville, while she was in Charlotte, North Carolina—he was determined to make it work. Every weekend when he didn’t have his children with him, Jared would drive the long 6 1/2 hours just to spend time with her. These weekend visits became the foundation of their budding relationship, with each visit bringing them closer together.

After about four months of long drives and cherished weekends, she decided to take a leap of faith. She moved to Jacksonville, eager to start a new chapter with Jared. Their relationship, which had started with a simple swipe on a dating app, culminated in marriage in 2017. It was the beginning of what they both hoped would be a lifetime of happiness together.

On October 22, 2017, Jared and Kirsten married and later had two children.

In 2018, Gardner and Mario quietly got married in Jacksonville. It was a private affair, with no one outside their immediate circle aware of the union. To most, it seemed sudden and perhaps even hasty, but Gardner and Mario had their reasons. “We didn’t know each other very well when we got married,” Gardner later confessed, acknowledging the unconventional nature of their decision.

Mario and Gardner had just started dating when they decided to take a trip to Utah to visit her parents. It was an opportunity for Mario to get to know Gardner’s family and to deepen their relationship.

Shannan Gardner’s mother, seeing the connection between them and the challenges Gardner was facing, made a surprising suggestion. “Why don’t you two get married?” she proposed, sensing that it might bring some stability to Gardner’s life.

Gardner was taken aback by the idea. She knew that their relationship was still in its early stages and that marriage was a big step. “We wouldn’t have a typical marriage,” she admitted to Mario later, when they discussed her mother’s suggestion. But there was a certain convenience to the idea, especially when it came to the well-being of her children. Gardner and Mario both wanted what was best for the kids, and they recognized that their partnership could offer a supportive environment.

Mario Enrique Fernandez Saldana was in the Army and was charged with Forcible Sodomy & Sexual Assault for forcing a recruit under his charge while in his position as a drill instructor in the US Army. The charges were dropped, and he was discharged Less than Honorable January 9, 2018.

In 2018, Gardner and Mario quietly got married in Jacksonville. It was a private affair, with no one outside their immediate circle aware of the union. To most, it seemed sudden and perhaps even hasty, but Gardner and Mario had their reasons. “We didn’t know each other very well when we got married,” Gardner later confessed, acknowledging the unconventional nature of their decision.

One of the primary motivations behind the marriage was the children. Mario wanted to help Gardner with her kids, but Jared, Gardner’s ex, was hesitant about allowing another man to be involved in their lives. The only way Jared would agree to Mario’s involvement was if they were married. So, with that understanding, Gardner and Mario took the plunge, formalizing their relationship in a way that allowed Mario to be a part of the children’s lives.

Despite the unconventional start to their marriage, Gardner and Mario were committed to making it work, focusing on creating a stable and loving environment for the kids. It wasn’t the traditional love story, but it was one built on practicality and a shared desire to do right by the children. And in that sense, it was a marriage that, though unexpected, served its purpose.

Fernandez Saldana made statements that he could “get four guys,” break into Bridegan’s residence in the middle of the night and “take care of him and nobody would ever know.” The witness also stated one evening, while out to dinner, she and Fernandez Saldana had a disagreement over how to handle her child. During this encounter, FERNANDEZ SALDANA said to her, “You know I’ve killed people before” – a statement she understood to be a threat.

January 24, 2022, Bridegan sent GARDNER an email advising her that he was planning to have one of the twins baptized in the Mormon Church. Witnesses indicated that Bridegan’s twin daughter was beginning to favor Bridegan and K.B. and wished to be more involved in the Mormon faith. Shannan was angry and against it.

The truck is believed to be a dark-colored 2004-2008 Ford F150. 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.

Police are also asking the residents along the route shown in the attached map if they have any home security camera footage between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on 02/16/22 involving a black in color SUV

Police not only had surveillance audio from neighbors, but they also obtained surveillance video of the ambush murder.

The video showed the muzzle flashes and the shooter running off, the reports state.. shooter fired four shots, two hit Bridegan and two hit the SUV.

After Jared’s Funeral

• February 28, 2022 – Shanna Gardner emailed Kristen Asking for a copy of Jared’s death certificate
  
• March 16: The first interview was held
  
• March 24: Shanna finally responds to a request to FaceTime the kids and says she’d like to have a conversation with me first. Refused to text or email and wants it to be on the phone.
• March 25: – Phone conversation with Shanna. She agreed to allow 1 Facetime call per week between Bexley and the twins.
• April 18: The kids had their 1 FaceTime call per week for ~3 weeks until she canceled the call scheduled for April 18th and said there would be no more Facetime calls moving forward. Kristen responded and asked “if we could at least speak to them on their birthday, April 20th”. She agreed.
• April 19: Candlelight vigil held – Shanna and twins do not attend despite it being an open invitation to any and all.
• April 20: Last Facetime call with the twins.
• Kirsten sent numerous texts asking for contact with the twins since then, no response or an excuse as to why it cannot happen. Other family members have reached out as well – they’ve been ignored. The kids have been completely cut off from their Dad’s family.
• December 2022 and January 2023, Shanna moved with her kids to West Richland, Washington (Tri-Cities area in SE Washington State) to live near her friend, Marla Rogers, who Shanna met in 2020 at a Baking Conference.
• June 2022 Gardner, 35, gave interview to the local newspaper the Florida Times-Union and insisted she had nothing to do with the execution of her ex-husband.”
• August 2022, Jared’s murder remains unsolved.

After Jared was murdered, Shanna and her husband Mario hired Henry Coxe III, a criminal defense attorney.

Shanna told the media she hired him to help protect her family from publicity and to keep her children out of the media.

Shanna has also told the media that her children are terrified at the media attention that has been focused on them.

“I can’t take it away,” Shanna said. “My kids are 10. They understand everything that is going on. They see this and they are scared, terrified and struggling.”

Shanna Separated from Mario and moved to WA.

on February 17, 2022 Bridegan’s current wife, Kirsten Bridegan, spoke with the twins, and the twins inquired whether Bridegan had a will, which struck her as very odd.

Gardner maintained a small baking business, and was a listed co owner in First Choice Home Rentals, LLC. However, the majority of her income came from the trust that was funded by her parents. Apparently in an effort to keep Bridegan from gaining access to any of her trust funds, and for Gardner to appear impecunious, she maintained very little money in her personal account, and showed almost no personal income. Bank records confirmed that Gardner never maintained more than $2,500.00 in her personal accounts at any time between January 01, 2021, and March 30, 2022 but in April 2022, Gardner’s bank records indicated an excess of $200,000 in her personal accounts.

At the time of Bridegan’s murder, Fernandez Saldana had over $400,000.00 in his account. Investigation further revealed that at the time of Bridegan’s murder, Gardner and Fernandez Saldana were separated and planning to divorce.

At the time of homicide Shanna Gardner owned White Model Y, with WA Plate: CFH7529 Tesla, and the vehicle was primarily driven by Shanna. 

On June 28, 2022 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.”

In August 2022, Tenon was arrested on an unrelated felony driving charge, he was driving Ford F-150 Truck, he was questioned about Bridegan’s murder and a Ford F-150 truck they had been searching for since the shooting.

Authorities revealed that a crucial piece of evidence that led to the investigation of Henry Arthur Tenon was his pickup truck, which had been captured on nearby security video. This footage placed Tenon at the scene and sparked further scrutiny into his possible involvement in the crime.

As the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together, it became clear that the case was far more complex than anyone had initially imagined. The involvement of Saldana, coupled with Tenon’s testimony, pointed to a chilling conspiracy that had been brewing behind the scenes. The legal proceedings that followed would be closely watched, as the community sought answers and justice for the crimes committed.

As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered more damning evidence. An arrest warrant detailed that Tenon’s financial records from his bank revealed three handwritten checks from Mario Fernandez Saldana, all dated in October 2022. This discovery raised suspicions about the nature of their relationship and the potential motives behind the payments.

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.

Further investigation into phone records provided additional insight. It was found that Tenon and Fernandez Saldana had communicated 35 times during February of that year. The frequency and timing of these communications, coupled with the financial transactions, painted a picture of a conspiracy between the two men. This evidence was critical in building the case against both Tenon and Saldana, leading to their arrests and the subsequent charges of murder and conspiracy.

August 18, 2022: Tenon was detained during a traffic stop with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. TENON was placed under arrest for felony traffic charges, and he was transported to the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (“CGIC”) to be interviewed in reference to the murder.

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, Henry Tenon, 61, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder with a weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after the fact, and child abuse in connection with the February 16, 2022, execution-style killing in north Florida.

On February 1, 2023, Melissa Nelson, the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District, announced a major development in the case during a press conference, stating, “We know that Tenon did not act alone.” Her office formally filed the charging document against Tenon on that day. The document alleges that between January 4, 2022, and February 16, 2022, Tenon conspired with others to unlawfully and with premeditated intent, cause the death of Jared Bridegan.

Henry Tenon was living at 5239 Potomac Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32254, a property he was renting from Mario Fernandez. Fernandez had purchased the house on March 30, 2017, and sold it on October 18, 2022.

The evidence against Tenon includes surveillance footage and cell phone tracking data showing his dark blue F-150 truck in the vicinity of the crime scene on the night of the murder. The truck, later found by police, contained a spare tire linked to the setup of the shooting. DNA evidence from the tire matched Tenon’s.

GPS data also revealed that in the month before the murder, Tenon drove the murder route twice, which prosecutors described as “a practice run of the homicide route.” He drove from his Westside home to Jacksonville Beach, following the path Bridegan would take to return to his St. Johns County home after leaving Gardner’s house.

• Charges against Tenon include:
• Second-degree murder with a weapon
• Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder
• Accessory after the fact to a capital felony
• Child abuse

In March 2023, Henry Tenon, who worked as a handyman for Fernandez, pleaded guilty to murdering Jared Bridegan. As part of a plea agreement, Tenon agreed to cooperate and testify truthfully against Fernandez. In return, he was promised a prison sentence ranging from 15 years to life. Tenon had been the first suspect arrested in the case, and his charges included second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after the fact, and child abuse.

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.

Affidavit For Arrest Warrant

Mario Fernandez-Saldana Arrested, Indicted for Murder of Jared Bridegan Press Release Indictment

On Aug. 17, 2023, Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Lee Gardner, was indicted on the same charges. She was arrested in the state of Washington where she was living. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Shanna Gardner and Fernandez Saldana.

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

February 6, 2023, 4:51 PM Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with officers from the Jacksonville Beach Police Department and West Richland Police Department, executed a federal search warrant on the home, person, and vehicle of Shanna GARDNER-FERNANDF7 in West Richland, Washington. Upon arrival at the residence, located at 4754 Laurel Dr. West Richland, WA 99353, Shanna GARDNER FERNANDEZ was detained by West Richland Police Department for a search of her person. Agents contacted GARDNER Fernandez’s mother, Shelli Gardner (Ms. Gardner), at the entrance to the home. Ms. Gardner was asked by ATF S/A Kenneth Stengel if she had a cell phone on her and she indicated her phone was on the “kitchen counter.” ATF S/A Katlin Standiford was asked to conduct a frisk of Ms. Gardner which was completed with nothing found.

Gardner was notified by S/A Stengel of the federal warrant to search the home and she was asked to wait with her grandchildren and their dog in the home “office” located just off the main entrance of the residence. While waiting in the office, One of the twins asked “what are they looking for?” Standiford responded, “we’re looking for phones.” response was, “Like burner phones?”. also told Standiford that his mom keeps all her “important” electronics in her “bedroom closet,” and then whispered “up above” pointing towards the ceiling. Ms. Gardner, grandmother, added something to the effect of that’s also where she keeps the candy.

During the course of the search of the residence, the following items were seized:

• Wingtech (Revvl V) cell phone, black, with IMEI 863892057036085 found on the desk in Office (Room F)
• Acer Laptop, silver, found in the Master bedroom (Room B) closet, on the floor by SA Stengel
• Tablet, silver, which was found on the left side nightstand in the Master bedroom (Room B) by SA Stengel
• Apple Macbook, silver red case, which was found on left side nightstand in Master bedroom (Room B)
• Apple Macbook laptop, with blue case, which was found on a chair in the right hand corner of the Master bedroom
• T-Mobile Sim Card, found on shelf inside Master bedroom (Room B) closet, inside a box for Apple Electronic

During the course of the search of Shanna GARDNER’s person, the following items were seized:

• Apple Iphone, silver with floral case
• Apple Watch, with black band

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

Feb. 23, 2015 — after Jared Bridegan found sexually explicit messages between his then-wife Shanna Gardner and the man who claims he was her weight-lifting lover. Jared files for Divorce.

February 24, 2015 – The day after filing for divorce, Gardner-Fernandez visited a tattoo parlor to get a piercing and listed her trainer as her emergency contact, according to a waiver. Family court documents say that they were still living together at the time.

2015 they divorced & Gardner later married Mario Fernandez.

2016 Jared Bridegan met his second wife Kirsten through a dating app; She was living in Charlotte, NC at the time and working for Microsoft.