JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The man charged in the murder of a Jacksonville father was in court Tuesday morning.
Mario Fernandez is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jared Bridegan, a father of four who was shot and killed in Jacksonville Beach in February 2022. In addition to murder charges, he is also facing child abuse charges, because Bridegan was killed in front of his 2-year-old daughter, Bexley.
Fernandez was in Duval County Court for a pre-trial appearance in the case Tuesday morning.
A judge said Fernandez's trial was "in limbo" until the co-defendant in the case, Shanna Gardner, returns to Duval County jurisdiction.
Gardner was arrested in Washington state last month in connection to the murder of her ex-husband. The judge ordered Gardner to be held on no bond, and would remain in the Washington jail for 90 days before being extradited back to Duval County to stand trial.
Gardner is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder and child abuse.
The judge ordered Fernandez's pre-trial date be October, 2, 2023.