Shanna Gardner wished 'good luck' to hitman to carry out ex-husband Jared Bridegan's murder
DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA: In a chilling twist to the murder case of Microsoft manager Jared Bridegan, testimony from a witness unveiled unsettling evidence implicating his ex-wife Shanna Gardner.
During a bond hearing on Wednesday, the witness revealed that Gardner had written "good luck!" on a check intended for the purported hitman hired to execute Bridegan's murder in 2022.
Insights into Jared Bridegan's murder conspiracy
The Duval County courtroom was captivated as multiple witnesses testified, offering pivotal insights into the case.
Gardner, a mother of two, faces charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony, and child endangerment.
According to testimony, Gardner and her second husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, allegedly offered a substantial sum of $150,000 to Henry Tenon, the latter's ex-tenant, to execute the murder.
A $5,000 check dated April 4, 2022, from Gardner's and Saldana's LLC, First Choice Home Rentals, bore the ominous words "Kickstarter" and "Good luck!" as testified by Jacksonville Beach Police Department Det. Chris Johns.
"Mr. Tenon stated that this was the first of many payments that were supposed to be an investment into his pallet company which was actually payment for the homicide," Johns, the lead detective assigned to the Bridegan murder case, revealed on Tuesday, reported Yahoo.
Timeline of Jared Bridegan's murder
Prosecutors outlined the chilling details of the alleged plot, depicting it as a "contract killing of Jared Bridegan," masterminded by Gardner, Saldana, and Tenon.
Bridegan had two children with Gardner and two with his wife, Kirsten Bridegan. Saldana faces similar charges to Gardner in connection to Bridegan's murder.
Tragically, Bridegan met his end on February 16, 2022, when he was fatally shot in front of his vehicle under suspicious circumstances on a secluded road in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Shockingly, his then-2-and-a-half-year-old daughter was present in the back seat during the harrowing incident.
After traffic accumulated behind Bridegan's vehicle following the shooting, bystanders approached and successfully extracted the toddler from his car. They transferred her to another vehicle and provided her with a blanket, as recounted by Johns.
Police interviews uncover Shanna Gardner's theories
Johns conducted two interviews with Gardner after the shooting, questioning her in an attempt to gather insights into her ex-husband's fate.
Allegedly, Gardner proposed theories suggesting a possible drug deal gone awry or involvement in a gang initiation. She indicated to the police that Sanctuary Blvd, the location of Bridegan's shooting, was known as a place where drug transactions occurred in Jacksonville.
"I have never heard of that," testified Johns. Lead Detective Johns testified to Gardner's deep-seated animosity toward Bridegan, stemming from their bitter divorce in 2015.
This resentment was fueled by her relentless quest for sole custody of their twins and her desire to gain control over a trust fund established by her parents, contingent upon her maintaining "no legal entanglements" with Bridegan.
Despite Gardner and Saldana's pleas of not guilty, the complexity of the case continues to unravel, with Tenon's guilty plea and agreement to testify adding further intrigue.
