Defense attorneys fought in court yesterday in an attempt to suppress key evidence in the murder case of Jared Bridegan, who was gunned down on February 16, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida, on the way home from dropping his children off with their mother.

Murder-For-Hire Plot

The mother of the victim’s children, Shanna Gardner, and her husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, are charged with murder and conspiracy in Bridegan’s death. The 33-year-old Microsoft executive was allegedly lured off the road in a murder-for-hire plot. 

Bridegan was driving home when he drove by a tire lying in the center of the road. Prosecutors say that the married couple’s tenant, Henry Tenon, placed the tire there to lure the victim out of his car and kill him. 

Gardner, Fernandez Saldana, and Tenon were arrested and charged with the death of Bridegan. Tenon initially entered a plea agreement as the first one arrested, and told prosecutors he would testify against his co-defendants. 

Defendant Takes a Plea Deal

On March 16, 2023, Tenon pleaded guilty, but three years later, on February 17, 2026, he withdrew his plea and informed the court he would no longer testify on behalf of the prosecution. His new attorney, Julie Schlax, urged the judge to suppress statements the defendant made as part of the plea agreement during the hearing on Wednesday. 

Judge London Kite heard Schlax’s arguments, including her citing of Florida law that statements made as part of a plea agreement are inadmissible in court, so since Tenon changed his mind about the plea, it should not be used as evidence during trial. 

The day before Tenon pleaded guilty in 2023, he gave a sworn statement to prosecutors and a detective with his former attorney by his side. He described his role in the murder-for-hire plot, and at not one point was he informed that his statements could be used against him later.

“During the entire plea colloquy as well,” Schlax said Wednesday, “there is no admonition. There’s no suggestion that Mr. Tenon in any way has waived his Fifth Amendment rights about any statements previously given.”

Defense Argues to Throw Out Statement

Judge Kite requested a copy of the transcript of Tenon’s colloquy since she was not the one who previously accepted it. Schlax continued to argue that if prosecutors interviewed the defendant after the hearing, the statements would be admissible. However, his statements were made before a judge ratified the agreement, so they should be kept confidential.

Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi explained that they did not explicitly state that the defendant’s words would be used against him in a court of law, since the agreement implies it.

“Obviously, the defense is correct in pointing out that we did not explain to the Defendant that these would be used against him, because it went without saying, because the purpose of the sworn statement was for the defendant to testify repeatedly in this case over and over again, under oath, sworn testimony about his involvement and the involvement of his co-defendants,” Mizrahi said. 

“So the purpose of taking that sworn statement was because it was a negotiation, but he was becoming a witness in the case and was waiving all of his rights to remain silent. There’s no reason to read him his rights or explain to him it can be used against him, since that was the purpose of the plea.”

Kite informed both sides that she would issue a ruling at Tenon’s next court date later this month. Hours later, Kite listened to co-defendant Gardner’s attorneys argue to suppress evidence from wiretaps and search warrants. 

Evidence Battle

Defense attorney Patrick Korody argued the affidavits used to search the tenant’s home were based on Tenon and Fernandez Saldana. “The allegations in the affidavit against Ms. Gardner were largely motive,” Korody said. “That is not enough.”

He continued to argue that there is no proof of his client’s involvement in the murder beyond an allegation that she gave money to Tenon. 

Prosecutors disagreed with this statement, arguing that there is “direct evidence from her own statements to individuals that are outlined in these affidavits that she had the conscious intent, voiced in her desire or hope to take him out, get rid of him, take care of him, hire a hitman.”

Prosecutors previously released evidence in March 2026 showing multiple text messages of Gardner talking about her ex in a heinous way, years before the murder. 

In July 2026, while the ex-married couple was going through a bitter custody battle, Gardner texted a friend, “Just when I think doing this whole one week off/on thing is such a good idea. It gives me such great pleasure imagining slitting his throat.”

Kite said she will rule on the defense’s motion at Gardner’s hearing on June 1.