Over two months after her arrest, a woman accused of conspiring to murder her ex-husband, Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, has been extradited across the country to face charges in Duval County, Florida.
Shanna Lee Gardner, 36, is set to face trial alongside her second husband and alleged co-conspirator, Mario Enrique Fernandez Saldana, 35. Henry Tenon, 62, who was allegedly the gunman that killed Bridegan, has already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Gardner, who shares twin children with Bridegan, is now in custody and has waived her first court appearance. A hearing for her case is scheduled for November 3.
The tragedy unfolded on February 16, 2022, when Bridegan had a routine dinner with his nine-year-old twins, shared with Gardner, and his two-year-old daughter from his second marriage. After dropping off the twins at Gardner's home, he was en route home when he encountered a tire deliberately placed in the road.
While attempting to move it, he was fatally shot.
Gardner is facing charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit a capital felony. Child abuse charges were also filed, as Bridegan's two-year-old daughter was endangered during the shooting.
The case against Gardner, Fernandez Saldana, and Tenon was built partly on phone records, showing a significant number of contacts between Fernandez Saldana and Tenon during the relevant months. Bank records revealed that Fernandez Saldana had given Tenon handwritten checks.
Gardner's arrest occurred on August 17, 2023, in West Richland, Washington, in the presence of her twins and her mother. Gardner had previously denied any involvement in an interview with The Florida Times-Union on June 30, 2022.
She did not comment on her divorce from Bridegan, where she had accused him of abusive behavior and invasive surveillance.
A company owned by Gardner's parents confirmed her separation from Fernandez Saldana in March.
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