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New evidence suggests 2 others may have been involved in the death of Jared Bridegan

The names of the two people are redacted in documents, but investigators believe one of them was a former reserve police officer.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — New evidence released in the murder case of Jared Bridegan suggests two other people may have been involved in his 2022 death.

The names are redacted in the documents, but investigators believe one of them was a former reserve police officer.

Bridegan was the father of four who was shot to death in Jacksonville Beach, Friday will mark two years since he died.

His ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, and her second husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana are charged with his murder.

Another man, Henry Tenon, pleaded guilty last year to second degree murder.

More than 100 pages of documents were released ahead of the murder trials of Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana, who are both charged with killing Bridegan two years ago in Jacksonville Beach. 

They show Gardner was frustrated with the custody arrangement with Bridegan and a family member of his and said Gardner mentioned hiring a hitman to take him out five years before he was killed. 

Investigators painted a picture of “hate” by Gardner, who, according to the reports, “was frustrated by their custody arrangement and their differences in parenting choices.”

Some of Gardner’s phone calls were recorded with her family members and according to the documents, Gardner believed she was being tracked and discussed, “whether FaceTime screens could be "recorded."

Detectives say plans to kill Bridegan likely began in February 2015, when he and Gardner filed for divorce.

Fernandez-Saldana, who married Gardner in 2018, was quoted as saying Bridegan and Gardner’s two kids were, “better off' with Bridegan "out of the picture."

The documents also include conversations with Gardner’s friends one of them advised in a sworn statement that “Gardner had told her Fernandez-Saldana made statements that he could "get four guys," break into Bridegan's residence in the middle of the night and "take care of him and nobody would ever know."

Police say Tenon was hired to kill Bridegan.

He pleaded guilty last year to second degree murder and admitted he was the one who pulled the trigger.

Investigators say they used the announcement of a news conference to discuss a break in the case to ‘provoke’ Gardner and Fernandez Saldana into talking about what it may be about.

It was the announcement of Tenon’s arrest. Two months later Fernandez Saldana was indicted. Five months after his indictment Gardner was arrested.

The two other people, who investigators say likely conspired to kill Bridegan were not charged.

Gardner and Saldana are expected in court Friday morning for another pre-trial hearing.

First Coast News will be there and provide updates. 

    

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