Shanna Gardner-Fernandez was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday with first-degree murder, felony, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and child abuse, ABC News reported, citing prosecutors in a statement. Bridegan, 33, was shot to death in the middle of a Jacksonville Beach street last year in what authorities called an ambush.
Gardner-Fernandez was arrested in West Richland, Washington, and will be extradited to Duval County. It is not clear if she has an attorney who can act on her behalf. She is the third person charged in connection with Bridegan’s murder. Her current husband, Mario Fernández Saldaña, was indicted by a grand jury five months ago on multiple charges, including first-degree murder. Saldana’s former partner, Henry Tenon, was arrested earlier this year and is charged with carrying out the murder. According to the prosecution, Bridegan’s ex-wife planned the crime and “played a key role in the cold-blooded, calculated and premeditated murder” of the businessman.
Bridegan was driving with her 2-year-old daughter in Jacksonville Beach in February 2022 when she ran into a tire blocking her path, police said. When the man got out of the car, they killed him. Tenon has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is cooperating with prosecutors. Fernández Saldaña was charged with first-degree murder in March and pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty in his case. Authorities said prosecutors would also seek the death penalty for Gardner-Fernandez.
