JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: The shocking murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach has taken a perplexing turn as Shanna Gardner-Fernandez and Mario Fernandez, a Florida couple, now face first-degree murder charges.
The most unsettling aspect of the case is that the accused couple appeared to enjoy a carefree vacation with the victim's children just five weeks after the tragic incident unfolded.
In the wake of the murder, Bridegan's former spouse, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, and her new husband, Mario Fernandez, took a vacation that left the community in disbelief.
Shelli Gardner, Gardner-Fernandez's mother, posted several pictures on her blog showcasing the couple's apparent excursion with Bridegan's children, creating a stark contrast with the grim reality of the situation.
Shelli offered her perspective on the vacation, describing it in a blog post, "For spring break, we drove with Shanna and her family to Club Med Sandpiper Bay, an all-inclusive resort, in Florida. It reminded us of a cruise…only on land, and we had so much fun!"
The images from the vacation showed Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez interacting with the children, with one photo capturing Bridegan's ex enjoying a frozen drink.
Who are Shanna Gardner's parents?
Shanna's parents, Shelli and Sterling Gardner are renowned figures in the crafting industry, having founded the immensely successful company Stampin' Up!
Their entrepreneurial journey began with a desire to create a venture that was not only lucrative but also held deep personal meaning. Shelli, originally from Southern California, relocated to Utah during her childhood.
Her early experiences in entrepreneurship, including involvement with Tupperware, set the stage for the creation of Stampin' Up!, which initially focused on selling stamps from other manufacturers but eventually evolved to designing, manufacturing, and selling their own stamps.
In 1993, the company moved its operations from Nevada to Utah, and Shanna Gardner-Fernandez later assumed the role of CEO in 1998. Following her leadership, her daughter Sara Douglass took over the company in 2014.
Shelli and Sterling Gardner then turned their attention to missionary work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their influence extended beyond the crafting industry, as they also held significant roles within the local Mormon community, as per Freshers Live.
Complicated family dynamics
The relationship between Bridegan and Gardner-Fernandez added a layer of complexity to the case, with shared custody of their two children.
The photographs posted by Shelli Gardner showed the couple's apparent ease with the children, raising unsettling questions about their emotional response to the tragedy.
The legal proceedings took a dramatic turn with the arrest of Henry Tenon, alleged to be the hired triggerman.
Tenon's guilty plea and agreement to testify against the accused added further intrigue to the case. Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, previously denying involvement, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
The potential severity of the penalty looms, as a conviction could result in the death penalty.
Separate ceremony for Jared Bridegan
Kirsten Bridegan, the victim's widow, suspected Gardner-Fernandez's involvement in her husband's death from the beginning and barred her from attending the funeral.
Shelli Gardner's blog entry on March 21 added another layer to the narrative, revealing that Shanna and her friends held a separate ceremony to honor Bridegan after being uninvited from the official funeral.
"After Shanna (along with anyone who knew her) was uninvited from Jared’s funeral services, Shanna and the twins planned their own celebration of life," Shelli wrote.
The blog post also shared poignant details about the event, mentioning that the Bridegan children remembered happy memories of their father.
Shelli Gardner posted approximately 70 pictures from the occasion, which included images featuring Shanna Gardner-Fernandez and her husband.
The ceremony culminated with a touching gesture as attendees cut flowers from arrangements, walked over a dune, and bid farewell to Bridegan by tossing the flowers into the ocean at sunset.
Kirsten Bridegan, the victim's widow, has voiced her concerns about the Gardner family's interactions with her children. She accused them of isolating her children from their paternal relatives, per the New York Post.
“Words cannot accurately express the depth of our sadness,” the Gardner family said in a statement following the arrests.
“Family is our top priority. We love our daughter and are focused on supporting her and our entire family as we help our grandchildren navigate this difficult and very confusing time.”
