Jared Bridegan murder case

Developing StoryLast updated JUN 9
SUMMARY

A judge denied Shanna Gardner's motion to exclude evidence from court-authorized wiretaps on June 9, 2026, in the Jared Bridegan murder case, with new court documents alleging co-defendant Mario Fernandez called Gardner the 'mastermind' and discussed framing Bridegan's widow. As of June 9, 2026, Gardner's trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection on August 31, 2026, and run from September 8-25, 2026. The defense team for Gardner has also been granted a limited second deposition of Jared Bridegan's widow, Kirsten Bridegan, following claims she refused to answer over 100 questions in her initial deposition. A jailhouse informant, Emmanuel Alexander, claims Fernandez made these statements to him between May 2025 and March 2026.

Timeline

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Timeline of developments

June 2026 5 developments

  1. A judge denied Shanna Gardner's motion to exclude evidence from court-authorized wiretaps in the Jared Bridegan murder case.

    A judge denied Shanna Gardner's motion to exclude evidence from court-authorized wiretaps in the Jared Bridegan murder case. New court documents also allege co-defendant Mario Fernandez called Gardner the 'mastermind' behind the killing and attempted to frame Bridegan's widow. Gardner's trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection on August 31, with the trial running from September 8-25.

  2. Shanna Gardner's defense team has been granted a limited second deposition of Jared Bridegan's widow, Kirsten Bridegan.

    Shanna Gardner's defense team has been granted a limited second deposition of Jared Bridegan's widow, Kirsten Bridegan. This follows claims that Kirsten Bridegan refused to answer over 100 questions during her initial deposition. The ruling comes as prosecutors are permitted to use wiretap evidence against Gardner in the murder-for-hire plot of her ex-husband.

  3. A jailhouse informant claims Mario Fernandez told him that Shanna Gardner was the "mastermind" behind the Jared Bridegan killing and that they discussed framing the victim's widow.

    A jailhouse informant claims Mario Fernandez told him that Shanna Gardner was the "mastermind" behind the Jared Bridegan killing and that they discussed framing the victim's widow. These statements were allegedly made by Fernandez to fellow inmate Emmanuel Alexander between May 2025 and March 2026.

  4. A judge ruled that evidence obtained from court-authorized wiretaps on Shanna Gardner's electronics …

    A judge ruled that evidence obtained from court-authorized wiretaps on Shanna Gardner's electronics can be used in her upcoming trial for the murder-for-hire plot of her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan. Gardner's defense attorneys had sought to suppress this evidence, arguing law enforcement lacked probable cause for the wiretaps. Henry Tenon, who pleaded guilty to the shooting, has since changed his plea to not guilty.

  5. In the Jared Bridegan murder case, a judge ruled in June 2026 that Kirsten Bridegan, the victim's widow, must undergo a second deposition.

    In the Jared Bridegan murder case, a judge ruled in June 2026 that Kirsten Bridegan, the victim's widow, must undergo a second deposition. This ruling comes as jury selection for co-defendants Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana is scheduled for August 2026, with their trials to follow in September 2026.

May 2026 1 developments

  1. A pre-trial hearing on May 13, 2026, addressed arguments concerning statements made by Henry Tenon during plea negotiations, with a decision expected by May 26, 2026.

    A pre-trial hearing on May 13, 2026, addressed arguments concerning statements made by Henry Tenon during plea negotiations, with a decision expected by May 26, 2026. Prosecutors allege new documents released in March 2026, including text messages, demonstrate Gardner's discussions about harming her ex-husband. Shanna Gardner faces charges including first-degree murder and conspiracy.

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

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

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.

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.

January 2025 1 developments

September 2024 1 developments

March 2024 1 developments

August 2023 2 developments

  1. Shanna Gardner was arrested in Washington state in August 2023, facing charges of first-degree murde…

    Shanna Gardner was arrested in Washington state in August 2023, facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection with the death of her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan. Bridegan was shot in February 2022 after encountering a tire placed in the road, a tactic authorities believe was used to lure him to his death, with his two-year-old daughter in the car at the time. Two co-defendants have been indicted: Henry Tenon, who pleaded guilty and agreed to testify.

  2. 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

February 2023 1 developments

January 2023 1 developments

February 2022 2 developments