Jared Bridegan murder case

Developing StoryLast updated APR 21
SUMMARY

Jury selection for Shanna Gardner, accused in the 2022 murder of her ex-husband Jared Bridegan, is set for August 31, 2026, with her trial commencing September 8, 2026, in Florida. As of April 21, 2026, these dates follow a defense motion to suppress wiretap evidence, arguing a lack of probable cause. Gardner's estranged husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana, also charged in the murder-for-hire plot, will have his trial begin on August 17, 2026, following jury selection on August 10, 2026. Both Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana have pleaded not guilty, and their trials will be separate after the alleged triggerman, Henry Tenon, withdrew his guilty plea and will now proceed to trial.

Timeline

Want updates on this thread?

Track this story

April 2026 — 4 developments

  1. Shanna Gardner's jury selection is set for August 31, 2026, with her trial commencing September 8, 2026.

    Shanna Gardner's jury selection is set for August 31, 2026, with her trial commencing September 8, 2026. Mario Fernandez-Saldana's jury selection is scheduled for August 10, 2026, with his trial starting August 17, 2026. These dates follow a defense motion to suppress wiretap evidence.

  2. Shanna Gardner's defense attorneys filed a motion in April 2026 to suppress evidence from wiretaps, arguing law enforcement lacked probable cause.

    Shanna Gardner's defense attorneys filed a motion in April 2026 to suppress evidence from wiretaps, arguing law enforcement lacked probable cause. Gardner faces murder charges in connection with the death of her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan. Her trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection on August 31, 2026.

  3. Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana will have separate trials in the Jared Bridegan murder case.

    Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana will have separate trials in the Jared Bridegan murder case. Fernandez Saldana's trial begins with jury selection on August 10, 2026, and Gardner's trial will start jury selection on August 31, 2026. This decision follows the alleged triggerman's withdrawal of his guilty plea and decision not to testify.

  4. A judge has set new trial dates for Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez for August 3, 2026, pushing b…

    A judge has set new trial dates for Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez for August 3, 2026, pushing back from previous dates, and expressed concerns about using a single jury for both defendants. A future hearing is scheduled for April 9, 2026.

March 2026 — 3 developments

  1. Shanna Gardner's attorneys filed a motion seeking sanctions against prosecutors, alleging discovery …

    Shanna Gardner's attorneys filed a motion seeking sanctions against prosecutors, alleging discovery violations and abuse of authority related to the handling of her devices and attorney-client communications. Gardner faces murder charges in connection with the 2022 death of her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan.

  2. Shanna Gardner and her estranged husband, Mario Fernandez, accused of plotting the 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan, appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing on March 5, 2026.

    Shanna Gardner and her estranged husband, Mario Fernandez, accused of plotting the 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan, appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing on March 5, 2026. Both have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges. The hearing also addressed a motion for bond release for Fernandez, and noted that the accused gunman, Henry Tenon, has withdrawn his guilty plea and will proceed to trial.

  3. New evidence, including text messages allegedly exchanged with friends using code words like “funera…

    New evidence, including text messages allegedly exchanged with friends using code words like “funeral potatoes” and “doing magic,” has been released in the prosecution's case against Shanna Gardner. Gardner and her husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, are charged with hiring Henry Tenon to murder Bridegan, who was shot to death on February 16, 2022. Tenon, who initially pleaded guilty, withdrew his plea and will now go to trial.

February 2026 — 4 developments

  1. Mario Fernandez-Saldana, accused of helping orchestrate the 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan, has filed a motion seeking bond.

    Mario Fernandez-Saldana, accused of helping orchestrate the 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan, has filed a motion seeking bond. Fernandez-Saldana faces charges including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors describe Bridegan's killing as a "murder-for-hire plot" orchestrated by Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana.

  2. Henry Tenon, who confessed to killing Jared Bridegan, has been indicted by a Duval County grand jury on first-degree murder and child abuse charges.

    Henry Tenon, who confessed to killing Jared Bridegan, has been indicted by a Duval County grand jury on first-degree murder and child abuse charges. His second-degree murder charge has been upgraded to first-degree, and he will now go to trial after his request to withdraw his guilty plea was approved. Police and prosecutors consider Bridegan's killing a "murder-for-hire plot" orchestrated by his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, and her husband.

  3. Henry Tenon, who previously confessed to his role as the gunman in the murder-for-hire plot of Jared…

    Henry Tenon, who previously confessed to his role as the gunman in the murder-for-hire plot of Jared Bridegan, has had his motion to withdraw his guilty plea approved and will now proceed to trial. Tenon is charged alongside Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez-Saldana, who have pleaded not guilty. The murder occurred on February 16, 2022.

  4. Henry Tenon, who had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Jared Bridegan and agree…

    Henry Tenon, who had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Jared Bridegan and agreed to testify against Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana, is now seeking to withdraw his plea. Tenon claims his testimony against Gardner and Saldana was false and he no longer intends to testify.

January 2026 — 2 developments

  1. In a pre-trial hearing on September 20, 2025, a judge granted a motion restricting the disclosure of…

    In a pre-trial hearing on September 20, 2025, a judge granted a motion restricting the disclosure of some discovery materials related to Mario Fernandez and allowed out-of-state witnesses to appear via Zoom. Separately, on January 22, 2026, a judge granted Shanna Gardner's motion to block the release of certain evidence before her trial.

  2. A judge denied a motion from Mario Fernandez-Saldana's defense team that sought clarity from confessed hitman Henry Tenon.

    A judge denied a motion from Mario Fernandez-Saldana's defense team that sought clarity from confessed hitman Henry Tenon. Separately, a civil wrongful death case filed by Jared Bridegan's widow will not proceed until after the criminal murder trial concludes.

December 2025 — 1 developments

  1. Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez are on track for their murder-for-hire trial in summer 2026, with jury selection specifically slated for August 10, 2026.

    Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez are on track for their murder-for-hire trial in summer 2026, with jury selection specifically slated for August 10, 2026.

November 2025 — 1 developments

  1. Prosecutors have withdrawn their intent to seek the death penalty for Shanna Gardner and her husband, Mario Fernandez, in the murder-for-hire case of Jared Bridegan.

    Prosecutors have withdrawn their intent to seek the death penalty for Shanna Gardner and her husband, Mario Fernandez, in the murder-for-hire case of Jared Bridegan.

October 2025 — 1 developments

  1. The initial trial date for Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana is set, but later postponed.

    The initial trial date for Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana is set, but later postponed.

July 2025 — 4 developments

  1. The trial for Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez, accused in the 2022 murder-for-hire of Jared Bridegan, has been delayed until August 2026.

    The trial for Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez, accused in the 2022 murder-for-hire of Jared Bridegan, has been delayed until August 2026. Bridegan's widow is seeking $100,000 from Gardner, Fernandez, and Henry Tenon for wrongful death. Henry Tenon, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, is also involved in the case.

  2. The trial for Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez was postponed until August 3, 2026, with jury selection expected to last a week and involve up to 500 potential jurors.

    The trial for Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez was postponed until August 3, 2026, with jury selection expected to last a week and involve up to 500 potential jurors.

  3. Shanna Gardner's attorneys filed a motion in July 2025 to obtain communications from jailhouse infor…

    Shanna Gardner's attorneys filed a motion in July 2025 to obtain communications from jailhouse informants, which Judge London Kite granted, allowing the defense team to access these communications.

  4. Henry Tenon's public defender withdraws from the case due to a conflict of interest, and a new attorney is appointed.

    Henry Tenon's public defender withdraws from the case due to a conflict of interest, and a new attorney is appointed.

February 2025 — 2 developments

  1. New documents reveal that Shanna Gardner, awaiting trial for the murder of Jared Bridegan, had multiple jailhouse violations in April and June 2024.

    New documents reveal that Shanna Gardner, awaiting trial for the murder of Jared Bridegan, had multiple jailhouse violations in April and June 2024. These violations include possession of contraband and drugs. Gardner faces charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

  2. Discipline reports reveal that murder suspect Shanna Gardner committed drug and theft violations whi…

    Discipline reports reveal that murder suspect Shanna Gardner committed drug and theft violations while incarcerated, including possession of narcotics in April 2024 and theft in August 2024.

January 2025 — 1 developments

  1. Henry Tenon states in court that his previous testimony was false and requests a new attorney, potentially impacting his plea deal.

    Henry Tenon states in court that his previous testimony was false and requests a new attorney, potentially impacting his plea deal.

September 2024 — 1 developments

March 2024 — 1 developments

  1. Attorneys for Shanna Gardner have filed a motion to dismiss her indictment in the murder-for-hire plot of her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan.

    Attorneys for Shanna Gardner have filed a motion to dismiss her indictment in the murder-for-hire plot of her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan.

August 2023 — 1 developments

  1. Shanna Gardner, Bridegan's ex-wife, is arrested in Washington state and indicted on charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy, solicitation, and child abuse.

    Shanna Gardner, Bridegan's ex-wife, is arrested in Washington state and indicted on charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy, solicitation, and child abuse. Prosecutors announce they will seek the death penalty against Gardner and Fernandez.

March 2023 — 2 developments

  1. Mario Fernandez Saldana, Shanna Gardner's husband, is arrested and indicted on charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy, solicitation, and child abuse.

    Mario Fernandez Saldana, Shanna Gardner's husband, is arrested and indicted on charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy, solicitation, and child abuse.

  2. Henry Tenon pleads guilty to second-degree murder and agrees to testify against others involved in the case.

    Henry Tenon pleads guilty to second-degree murder and agrees to testify against others involved in the case.

February 2023 — 1 developments

  1. Jared Bridegan's widow, Kirsten Bridegan, files a wrongful death lawsuit against Henry Tenon, Shanna Gardner, and Mario Fernandez Saldana.

    Jared Bridegan's widow, Kirsten Bridegan, files a wrongful death lawsuit against Henry Tenon, Shanna Gardner, and Mario Fernandez Saldana.

January 2023 — 1 developments

February 2022 — 2 developments

  1. Police confirm the killing was a targeted ambush, not a random act, and launch a wide investigation into the murder of Jared Bridegan.

    Police confirm the killing was a targeted ambush, not a random act, and launch a wide investigation into the murder of Jared Bridegan.

  2. Jared Bridegan, Shanna Gardner's ex-husband, is ambushed and fatally shot in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, after dropping off their children.

    Jared Bridegan, Shanna Gardner's ex-husband, is ambushed and fatally shot in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, after dropping off their children. His 2-year-old daughter was in the car.