Estranged couple appear in court for first time together in Jared Bridegan murder-for-hire
Mario Fernandez Saldana and Shanna Gardner appeared together in a courtroom nearly side by side for the first time Wednesday for a hearing.
They're being prosecuted together in what's been called a murder-for-hire in the 2022 shooting death of Gardner's ex-husband, Jared Bridegan, after leaving their home in Jacksonville Beach. In previous hearings, their appearances were either waived or they went before the judge one at a time while the other waited outside.
The couple, who recently released court documents show had agreed to get a divorce, are accused of hiring Henry Arthur Tenon to kill Bridegan over bitter relations and legal matters involving money and their two children. Tenon, who turns 63 Friday, has already pleaded guilty to being the one who shot him. He is awaiting sentencing after he testifies.
Wednesday, Fernandez Saldana's attorney Jesse Driecer said they are having difficulty accessing some of the materials in the case while they continue to seek to have the State Attorney's Office recused due to the defense's motion stating a confidentiality breach.
Meanwhile, Gardner's attorney Patrick Korody pushed for a bond hearing to seek her release, stating the confidentiality issue is no fault of her own. Both defendants have no bond.
Judge London Kite decided to schedule another hearing for Feb. 14 a day after Korody said he would be getting depositions from Secret Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive agents.
Bridegan, 33, had dropped off the children at Gardner and Fernandez Saldana's home after taking them out for dinner and ice cream on their regular "date night" and was on his way home to St. Augustine with his 2-year-old daughter. He always drove the same route but stopped due to a tire in the middle of the road, police previously said. He was shot in the neck and shoulder. Bullets also struck his Volkswagen but not his daughter. Nothing appeared to be stolen, and police right away theorized he was targeted.
Just released: Here's what Shanna Gardner told police in her first extensive interview after ex's death
Murder plot Documents: Here's what Mario Fernandez Saldana told police in extensive interview after Jared Bridegan death
After a lengthy investigation with multiple interviews and securing surveillance videos, Tenon was the first to be arrested locally. He was a former tenant of Fernandez Saldana, who leased properties. That led to his arrest in Orlando after he and Gardner became estranged and went their separate ways. Lastly, Gardner was taken into custody in the state of Washington where she have moved with the children.
Gardner and Fernandez Saldana are charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Shanna Gardner, Mario Fernandez Saldana appear in court together
