The woman accused of orchestrating the murder of her Microsoft executive ex-husband tearfully proclaimed her innocence in a newly released 2022 interview — and said she hopes to catch her killer.
Shanna Gardner was arrested in August and charged with first-degree murder for the February 2021 brutal killing of father-of-four Jared Bridegan.
Locked in a bruising custody battle with Bridegan at the time, Gardner found himself the prime suspect in the case and gave several interviews insisting on his innocence.
“I hope we can find the person who did this,” he told Action News Jax in June 2022 — about five months after Bridegan’s shooting death and a year before he was handcuffed for allegedly masterminding the crime.
With tears in her eyes and a broken voice, Gardner — who has twins with the man she is now accused of killing — said she felt sorry for the Bridegan family.
Shanna Gardner during her interview with WJAX-TV in June 2022 Shanna Gardner in a Florida court with her new attorney Jose Baez First Coast News
“I’m really sad,” he said. “I’m sad for his family, sad for Jared’s family. For his children. I am sad that this is not something that anyone should have to go through. I never want anyone to go through what we all went through.”
According to police, Gardner and her new husband, Mario Fernandez, paid triggerman Henry Tenon to kill Bridegan.
The Microsoft executive had just dropped off the twin children he shares with Gardner at his Jacksonville Beach residence and was returning home when he spotted a tire in the middle of the road.
With her 2-year-old daughter Bexley in the back seat, Bridegan was pumped full of bullets after she got out of the car to clear a path.
Slain Microsoft Executive Jared Bridegan Jacksonville Beach Police Departed
The toddler – one of two children he has with his new wife, Kirsten – was almost hit by gunfire. He remained at the scene until a passerby spotted Bridegan’s lifeless body in the street.
Asked why she thought her ex-husband had been ambushed so close to her home, Gardner paused.
“I can’t speculate on that,” he said. “Unfortunately it happens everywhere. Wherever this kind of thing happens. And I really feel for everyone who has been affected by this.”
Gardner also told the station at the time that he had no plans to leave Florida, and had cooperated fully with police.
Shanna Gardner and her second husband, Mario Fernandez
But just months later, he moved into a $1 million home in West Richland, Washington, that his parents bought.
Tearing up again toward the end of the interview, Gardner said he was devastated by Bridegan’s death.
“It makes me sad for everyone involved,” he said. “For Jared’s family, for his children.”
Gardner has hired prominent Miami attorney Jose Baez to defend him against charges that could carry the death penalty if convicted.
Henry Tenon was the trigger, police said. Jacksonville Beach Police Department
Baez, who secured acquittals for accused killer Casey Anthony and former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, entered a not guilty plea on Gardner’s behalf last week.
Bridegan’s sister tore into her siblings’ killers after the Jacksonville trial.
“I think the people in charge thought no one would care about Jared,” Ashleigh Bridegan said. “But his family cares. And all his children care. Our community cares. And so are many people from all over the country.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
