Husband of Jared Bridegan?s ex-wife charged in ambush murder
State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith announced Thursday the arrest of Mario Fernandez Saldana, 34, in the murder case of Jared Bridegan.
He was arrested in Kissimmee Thursday morning and is now in the Orange County Jail.
?This is a capital felony punishable by death, or mandatory life in prison,? Nelson said.
Fernandez is the husband of Bridegan?s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez. He?s charged with first degree murder with a weapon, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse.
The state attorney?s office identified Henry Tenon, 61, as the shooter. He was arrested last month, and is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder with a weapon, accessory after the fact to a capital felony and felony child abuse.
According to the arrest warrant, bank records showed three handwritten checks that Fernandez wrote to Tenon. It also reads ?phone records show that Tenon and Fernandez had 35 phone contacts in February, 30 contacts in March and five to nine contacts in May and June, 2022.?
?We have fought hard for the truth, and the world now knows what we?ve known all along--that Jared truly was an innocent victim,? Kirsten Bridegan said at the news conference.
Kirsten went on to say, ?We?re here today feeling many emotions. We have great relief knowing that two of the people behind my husband?s murders are now behind bars. and are no longer a threat to her family. Were also still angry, angry that they were walking free.?
Nelson said Tenon plead guilty in court Thursday and agreed to testify against those who helped.