The husband of Jared BrideganThe ex-wife of the ex-wife was arrested and charged with the brazen execution of the Microsoft government.
The Jacksonville Seaside Police Division introduced that Mario Fernandez-Saldana was arrested Thursday morning within the February 2022 killing of Bridegan, who was fatally shot final yr whereas attempting to maneuver a tire in the midst of a quiet road resident of Florida whereas her daughter was. nonetheless within the automobile.
Fernandez-Saldana, 35, is the second husband of Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, who was married to Bridegan for six years earlier than their 2015 divorce. He has been indicted on a number of expenses, together with second-degree homicide with a weapon, and conspiracy to commit first diploma homicide. The arrest comes months later Fernandez-Saldana’s contractor and tenant, Henry Tenon, was arrested in reference to February 16, 2022, slaying. State’s Lawyer Melissa Nelson stated at a information convention that Tenon pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide on Thursday.
“Henry Tenon admitted he was the shooter,” Nelson stated Thursday.
The thriller behind the brazen execution of a Microsoft boss
Police say Bridegan was returning to his St. Augustine residence after dropping off his twins at his ex-wife’s home when he ran over a flat tire in the midst of the street. After leaving his 2-year-old daughter within the backseat of his Volkswagen Atlas, Bridegan was fatally shot a number of occasions “in chilly blood” as he tried to maneuver the obstruction.
The boy, who’s one in all two daughters he shares with Kirsten Bridegan, was blamed for the assault and was nonetheless in his automobile seat when a person drove up minutes later and known as the authorities. Police say after they arrived on the crime scene, Bridegan’s automobile’s hazard lights had been flashing and the tire was nonetheless on the street.
On the time of Tenon’s arrest, authorities didn’t present any particulars about his connection to Bridegan, however he acknowledged in a grievance towards him that he conspired with at the very least one confederate for six weeks earlier than l homicide.
Public information obtained by The Each day Beast confirmed Tenon, 61, lived in a Jacksonville residence that, till October, belonged to Fernandez-Saldana. In addition they have it’s stated to have labored as a handyman for a number of of Fernandez’s Jacksonville rental properties.
A closely redacted arrest warrant affidavit, obtained by The Each day Beast, notes that Tenon obtained “three handwritten checks” from Fernandez-Saldana. Telephone information additionally present that Tenon and Fernandez-Saldana spoke on the cellphone 35 occasions in February, 30 occasions in March, and between 5 and 9 occasions in Could and June.
“The totality of the proof establishes that Fernandez Saldana was a principal in Bridegan’s homicide and that Fernandez Saldana solicited, conspired and assisted others concerned in Bridegan’s homicide,” the affidavit states.
A spokesman for Garnder-Fernandez didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Mario Fernandez-Saldana
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State Lawyer’s Workplace, 4th Circuit
Thursday’s arrest marks one other main improvement within the “focused” assault towards the senior design supervisor. As beforehand reported by The Each day BeastThe Mormon father’s loss of life uncovered his difficult marriage and February 2015 divorce from Garnder-Fernandez.
The affidavit notes that Garnder-Fernandez met her husband at a CrossFit health club in 2018, the place the latter was a “upkeep man.” Prosecutors additionally word that Bridegan, Garnder-Fernandez and Fernandez-Saldana had a “contentious relationship.”
Since their divorce, Bridegan and Garnder-Fernandez have been locked in a contentious court docket battle in St. Louis County. Johns, which embody little one custody battles and allegations of psychological manipulation.
Garnder-Fernandez and the twins have since moved to Washington amid media scrutiny.
Kirsten Bridegan instructed The Each day Beast final yr that regardless of the continuing battle together with her ex-wife, she and Bridegan had set a schedule to ensure she may see their kids. As a part of the custody settlement, the Bridegans noticed the twins on Wednesdays for “date night time” after they weren’t with them.
“Normally it could encompass dinner and a fast exercise like dinner or dessert, after which the mum or dad would drop the youngsters off on the different mum or dad’s home,” Kirsten beforehand defined, noting that her husband would come residence from one in all these “dates”. nights” when he was fatally shot.
On Thursday, Bridegan’s widow thanked authorities for his or her continued efforts to search out her husband’s killer.
“We’re very relieved, however they’re additionally upset that they are waking up free and Jared would not be right here,” she added.
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