The girl charged with masterminding her Microsoft government ex-husband’s homicide tearfully proclaimed her innocence in a newly launched 2022 interview — and stated she hoped for the arrest of his killer.
Shanna Gardner was taken into custody in August and charged with first diploma homicide for the ruthless slaying of father-of-four Jared Bridegan in February 2021.
Locked in a bruising custody struggle with Bridegan on the time, Gardner discovered herself a major suspect within the case and gave a number of interviews asserting her innocence.
“I hope we are able to discover the person who did this,” she instructed Motion Information Jax in June 2022 — roughly 5 months after Bridegan’s taking pictures dying and a 12 months earlier than she was positioned in handcuffs for allegedly orchestrating the crime.
With tearing eyes and halting voice, Gardner — who had twins with the person she’s now accused of killing — stated she felt sorry for Bridegan’s household.
“I actually am unhappy,” she stated. “I’m unhappy for his household, unhappy for Jared’s household. For his children. I’m unhappy as a result of this isn’t one thing that anyone ought to need to undergo. I’d by no means need anyone to expertise what we’ve all been experiencing.”
In line with police Gardner and her new husband, Mario Fernandez, paid triggerman Henry Tenon to homicide Bridegan.
The Microsoft supervisor had simply dropped off the twins he shared with Gardner at her Jacksonville Seashore residence and was returning residence when he noticed a tire in the course of the street.
Together with his 2-year-old daughter Bexley within the backseat, Bridegan was pumped filled with bullets after he exited the automobile to clear the trail.
The tot — certainly one of two kids he had together with his new spouse Kirsten — was practically struck by gunfire. She remained on the scene till a passerby noticed Bridegan’s lifeless physique on the street.
Requested why she thought her ex-husband had been ambushed so near her residence, Gardner paused.
“I couldn’t speculate on that,” she stated. “It’s unlucky that it occurred anyplace. Wherever issues like this occur. And I actually really feel for everyone that has been affected by this.”
Gardner additionally instructed the station on the time that she had no plans to go away Florida, and had totally cooperated with police.
However solely months later, she moved to a $1 million residence in West Richland, Washington which was bought by her mother and father.
Crying as soon as in opposition to in the direction of the top of the interview, Gardner stated she was distraught by Bridegan’s dying.
“It makes me unhappy for everybody concerned,” she stated. “For Jared’s household, for his children.”
Gardner has employed distinguished Miami lawyer Jose Baez to defend her in opposition to prices that would lead to a dying sentence if convicted.
Baez, who earned acquittals for accused killers Casey Anthony and former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, entered a not responsible plea on Gardner’s behalf final week.
Bridegan’s sister ripped her sibling’s killers after the Jacksonville listening to.
“I believe these accountable thought nobody would care about Jared,” Ashleigh Bridegan stated. “However his household cared. And all of his kids care. Our neighborhood cared. And so did many individuals from everywhere in the nation.”