About The Murder Of Jared Bridegan: The Case Against Shanna Gardner
In February 2022, Jared Bridegan was shot and killed on a dark Florida road with his two-year-old daughter in the backseat. What followed was one of the most disturbing murder-for-hire cases in recent memory — a story of a bitter custody battle, a calculated conspiracy, and an execution disguised as a random crime.
Shanna Gardner, Jared's ex-wife, now stands trial for his murder. Prosecutors say she orchestrated his killing. Her family says she's innocent.
The Murder of Jared Bridegan: The Case Against Shanna Gardner is Hidden Killers' dedicated trial coverage brought to you by host Tony Brueski. Every episode delivers expert commentary from attorneys, investigators, and behavioral analysts — plus sharp, informed analysis of courtroom developments as they happen.
This isn't a recap show. This is a front-row seat to one of the most closely watched criminal trials in the country, asking hard questions about how well we ever really know the people closest to us — and what some are capable of when they believe they'll never get caught.
New episodes drop throughout the trial. Subscribe now so you don't miss a single development.
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This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Shanna Gardner's Lawyer Just Accused Prosecutors of WHAT?!
Mario Fernandez is going to prison for killing Jared Bridegan. What happened one day later changed the case against his co-defendant entirely.
Fernandez was convicted of first-degree murder and solicitation after a jury deliberated less than four hours. He's facing life without parole for the 2021 shooting staged to look like a carjacking outside Bridegan's Jacksonville Beach home. Then, one day after the verdict, prosecutors filed two new felony charges against Fernandez — both involving children, both unconnected to Bridegan's murder, one tied to a girl who was around eight when the alleged conduct began.
Shanna Gardner's trial was set to start days later. Instead, Judge London Kite granted a continuance, pushing jury selection to May 2027 so her defense can dig into whether the new charges point to a motive of Fernandez's own. Fernandez had already told police the twins were "better off" with Bridegan "out of the picture" — a comment that predates the new allegations by years and raises the question of whose plan this really was.
None of that erases the evidence prosecutors already built against Gardner: her own text messages, which prosecutors say read as intent rather than venting. A friend texted a contact about finding Gardner "a guy" who "performs permanent disappearing acts on certain people." A detective testified the plot traces to 2015. Gardner still faces murder, conspiracy, solicitation, and a fourth charge tied to her twins.
Her attorney, Jose Baez, got Casey Anthony acquitted on every major count, and he's already accusing the state of mischaracterizing evidence. The jury pool has been doubled to 500. May 2027 feels far away — and this case keeps proving nothing about it is settled.
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DISCLAIMER
This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
HASHTAGS
#JaredBridegan #ShannaGardner #MarioFernandez #BrideganCase #TrueCrime #JoseBaez #BrideganTrial #JacksonvilleBeach #MurderForHire #HenryTenon
28 Aug 2026
What Fernandez Was Charged With That Blew Up Gardner's Case
Fernandez's murder conviction was one day old when prosecutors filed two new felony charges against him involving crimes against children. One charge involves a girl who was about eight in April 2020. The second involves a different child at the home Fernandez shared with Gardner in March 2022.
Gardner's trial collapsed within hours. Jury selection was set for Monday. The defense asked for a continuance, citing the new charges and recently disclosed witnesses. Kite granted it. New trial date: May 2027. The defense indicated it wants to investigate whether the allegations give Fernandez an independent motive for the murder.
The marriage sits at the center. Gardner called it "convenience." Fernandez called it helping with "the Jared situation." The prosecution called it "a deal." The new charges raise the hardest question heading into May. Did Gardner conspire with a dangerous man, or did she unknowingly marry one?
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DISCLAIMER
This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
HASHTAGS
#MarioFernandez #JaredBridegan #ShannaGardner #BrideganCase #JoseBaez #HenryTenon #JacksonvilleBeach #MurderForHire #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime
27 Aug 2026
What Gardner's Best Friend Texted About Finding 'A Guy'
Four hours. That's how long the jury needed to convict Mario Fernandez of first-degree murder in the killing of Jared Bridegan. Five days later, the case turns to Shanna Gardner.
Gardner faces four charges — two more than the husband just found guilty. Prosecutors have evidence Fernandez's jury never saw. Gardner's own texts expressed violent desires about Bridegan. Jensen's messages discussed finding someone to carry out "permanent disappearing acts." Johns testified at a 2024 hearing that the plot dated to 2015.
Gardner's defense is Jose Baez, who won Casey Anthony's acquittal and has already accused the State Attorney's Office of withholding evidence and mischaracterizing the text messages. Baez argued that "funeral potatoes" is a real recipe in Gardner's LDS community and that the prosecution turned humor between friends into evidence of a murder plot. Whether the jury buys that reading may depend on a legal shift the Fernandez trial previewed: the witness blocked by marital privilege in that courtroom may testify freely in this one.
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DISCLAIMER
This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
HASHTAGS
#ShannaGardner #JaredBridegan #MarioFernandez #BrideganTrial #JoseBaez #HenryTenon #MurderForHire #JacksonvilleBeach #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime
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