Tri-Cities mother accused of murdering Microsoft exec lived in $1 million home

A woman accused of plotting the ambush murder of her ex husband has been living in a $1 million home bought by her parents in West Richland.

It’s unclear if Shanna L. Gardner, 36, or her parents had previous ties to the Tri-Cities before they purchased the new 3,300-square-foot home just off Bombing Range Road.

Police and federal agents arrested Gardner at the house on Thursday after she was indicted by a Florida grand jury for an elaborate plot to kill her 33-year-old ex-husband in February 2022.

She is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder and child abuse.

She has been a central figure in the well-publicized murder investigation since Jared Bridegan, a Microsoft executive, was attacked and shot on a narrow, dimly light road in Jackson Beach, Fla.,with a 2-year-old daughter in his car.

Minutes earlier, he’d dropped off his and Gardner’s 9-year-old twins at her home, say investigators.

Seven months later in September 2022, a company run by Gardner’s parents, Sterling and Shelli Gardner, bought the West Richland home, according to records from Benton County Assessor’s Office.

The house, with a sweeping view of West Richland, the Columbia River and beyond, was built on the last lot on the cul-de-sac.

Gardner and the twins reportedly moved in earlier this year.

There is little publicly available about Whitesand LLC, which was formed in 2004. But Gardner’s parents own the multi-level marketing firm, Stampin’ Up.

The Riverton, Utah-based company sells products used for paper crafts, including greeting cards, scrapbooking and decor.

Gardner ran Beach Baked Creations before moving to West Richland, according to media reports. There are no Department of Revenue records of her moving it to Washington state with her.

The most recent Instagram post from the business was in November 2021.

After her arrest, her parents released a statement through their Salt Lake City-based attorney stating that they love their daughter and are focused on supporting her and the entire family, including their grandchildren, as they navigate the difficult and confusing situation.

Marriage, divorce and murder

Public records show Gardener and her family are from Utah.

She met Bridegan while she was visiting a friend in Florida in 2009 and married the next year in Salt Lake City, according to The Florida Times-Union. But after a troubled relationship they filed for divorce in 2015.

The divorce paperwork was filled with hundreds of accusations, according to the Times-Union. The couple ended up sharing custody of their children.

She met her second husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana, in 2018 at a CrossFit gym where he worked as a maintenance man, according to media reports.

Prosecutors with Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit claim the couple later allegedly began plotting to kill Bridegan.

Fernandez-Saldana is accused of recruiting Henry Tennon, who rented property from him, to shoot Bridegan.

On Feb. 16, 2022, Bridegan dropped off the twins at Gardner’s house and was driving home with his 2-year-old daughter still in the car.

A tire was in the middle of a dark road and he was shot when he climbed out to move it, according a state’s attorney release.

Tennon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his role in the shooting. Fernandez-Saldana is awaiting trial after being indicted for murder and conspiracy earlier this year.