Police are about to arrest Shauna Gardner, a 36-year-old cold-blooded killer who had just fled to Washington and her lover, Mario Fernandez, for hiring a hitman who murdered her ex-husband after shooting him seven times. Despite knowing what she had done, Shauna tries to trick detectives with her actions. But what she doesn't know is that a pile of evidence is already stacked against her. >> Yeah, just he was lying motionless in a pool of blood. I walked around the vehicle and that's when I saw the little girl in the back seat. >> He was face down on one cheek or the other. He wasn't face down on his forehead. He was face down on I don't remember which cheek it was, but one cheek or the other cheek. >> It's their father. Um, they were, I think, in shock. They [snorts] were very emotional. They were heartbroken. Detectives are speaking with Shana hours after her ex-husband Jared Brideigan, a Microsoft executive, was found murdered. Jared was murdered on his way home after dropping off the 9-year-old twins he shared with his ex-wife, Shauna. He was driving with his 2-year-old daughter. And just before 8:00 p.m. along an isolated road known as Sanctuary Boulevard, Jared came across a tire positioned in the middle of the road. When he stepped out to remove the tire, a man came out from the bushes and shot him at close range seven times before vanishing back into the darkness. Another driver who came upon the scene saw the headlights on and assumed Jared was simply changing a tire, not realizing he was struggling with his life. >> Can you describe for the jury how he was lying, his position? >> Yeah, he was um face down uh like facing towards the driver's side of his vehicle. Um, yeah, just he was lying motionless in a pool of blood. >> The driver's door was open and the man found Jared lying on the ground in a pool of blood. At first, he thought it was an accident and began checking for other cars nearby, but found none. It was only when he looked inside Jared's vehicle that the full horror of what had happened became clear. >> I was just trying to figure out what's going on. I already knew the police were coming. So, I was just trying to see like if there was an accident, like I said, and if someone needed help and then um I walked around the vehicle and that's when I saw the little girl in the back seat. Jared's 2-year-old daughter, Beexley, was sitting in the back of the vehicle, having just watched her father murdered in front of her. Her shock and expression made it clear to the man who found her that she would carry the trauma for years to come. When you got the little girl out of the car, can you describe to the jury what her demeanor was like? >> She was like panting and she seemed uh very in shock and she knew something happened to her father. Um she was saying like my daddy on the ground. I couldn't really make it out, but I knew she she's trying to explain to me. >> Jared was pronounced dead at the scene. His 2-year-old daughter, Beexley, belonged to his second wife, Kirsten Brideigan, whom he had married after separating from Shana. Even though they were divorced, Jared and Shana had been locked in a difficult custody battle that lasted for years following their 2015 divorce filing. After finalizing their divorce in 2018 and agreeing to joint custody, the two filed dozens of motions against each other over child support, court schedules, and where the twins would attend school. But what would eventually point to a disturbing detail later would be the amount of money that flowed into the case and prior to the murder >> uh financial motivations. Earlier uh we saw records from the Shana Gardner irrevocable trust. Can you describe for the court? Have you seen the trust documents yourself? >> I have. >> Can you describe for the court what the trust is and what it was I guess created to do? >> The trust would operate as a separate entity. Uh the trust was funded by Miss Gardner's parents and it was a way that they could essentially give money for the benefit of Miss Gardner and the twins that would not be considered her personal income and so therefore Mr. Ver would not have any access to those funds. Um in this case the granters were Mr. and Mrs. um gardener and the trustee was Margaret Fernandez. >> Shauna came from a wealthy family and her parents were the co-founders of Stampin' Up. They frequently financed her lifestyle and had also set up an irrevocable trust fund for her. However, this trust fund would later become a major lead in the entire case. For the meantime, after officers had secured the crime scene, they pulled thousands of hours of surveillance footage from the surrounding area. That's when investigators began to notice a pattern connecting the whole event that played prior and after the murder of Jared. [music] The surveillance footage showed a blue 2004 Ford F-150 Lariat pickup truck driving back and forth in the area for hours before the murder. Another surveillance footage showed the same truck driving directly in front of Bridean's car just 5 minutes before the shooting. Meanwhile, the footage also captured a tall, slim man walking away from the murder scene on foot shortly afterward. When detectives traced the truck, they found it belonged to a man named Henry Tenan. And comparing his stature, they discovered that the blurry image of the tall man captured on CCTV closely resembled him. With this first lead, detectives tracked Henry's movements and eventually caught up with him while he was driving a different vehicle. >> But y'all leave the rest of it in in between the wood. Just leave that in. That's they some get cut off, you know, in the process. >> Yeah. >> Other than that, the rest of them just stay. >> Where' you say that shotgun was? >> Directly underneath everything you around with right there. >> What kind of shotgun is it? Says 12 gauge. You know, brand >> I want to say it's a Mossberg, but I ain't got it where I can see that name on it yet. I'm instead of cleaning it up. >> Do you know how old it is? >> I have no idea. All I know is that it's old. >> It's old. Is it rusted or or is it just kind of like >> it it it it needs some parts replaced if I can find it and figure out what it is. >> But uh as far as that everything else you can tell where >> I guess the mud been corroded on it or whatnot or dirt I got >> rust a into the metal. I've been working on it trying to get all that up so I can get it free action move and stuff like that. >> Yep. >> Before I totally disassemble it and then try to put it back together. >> You made sure it's safe, right? There's not, you know, there's no shells or anything in it while you're trying to do that. >> Nothing in it >> cuz boy tell you what, man. There are so many people who >> first >> forget to forget either forget or don't realize that it was loaded, end up shooting themselves. >> Henry was pulled over for driving with a suspended license. Although at the moment he had no idea that this was actually a strategy officers used to safely take him into custody. During the stop, officers also found a shotgun in his vehicle. And since he was a convicted felon, they had to arrest him on the spot. >> I'm going to put these on you. These are a lot more comfortable. >> Will you come take the dog? >> There you go. These are better than standard cuffs. Is that good? >> That a little bit more comfortable? >> Yeah, that should tight. >> Yeah, that should be all right. All right, come on back here with me. >> Henry was taken to the station for further interrogation. Even there, he believed he'd only been brought in over his suspended license, unaware that detectives were about to lead him toward his downfall. Then I went around the block and stopped and sure enough >> cuz you knew the police were cutting, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So I just stopped and just chilled out from right there. I thought I got my sensor back together. Just just waited. I said, "Oh, I'm going to jail. They going to put you in >> cuz you knew about your license. You shouldn't be driving, I guess." >> Yeah. Put my >> I know. But you figured you were going to jail cuz you knew your license was you weren't you shouldn't be driving. I mean, bottom line. >> Well, on that yes and no. >> Okay. explain that >> because I have made some steps in the process of doing like somebody like taking DUI class which I just found out it's still on record as not being completed which it is. Did a defensive driving course. >> Okay. >> All right. [snorts] >> Detectives eventually shifted the conversation from the suspended license to the truck he owned. >> There's the tag on the truck. >> It's it said uh New Kings 5830 New Kings. This is probably, you know, a little while after you got it back to Jacksonville. 1231 21. >> Okay. >> So, that's probably after you get That's after you brought it back to Jacksonville, correct? >> Mhm. >> Okay. And I know it's been six, seven months. Do you remember what you were doing on New Kings that day? I know it's been You probably don't. >> So, it's right before Christmas. >> I don't know. You're at You're actually right at >> probably went over to visit the tree hangers over there crew over there and visit every once in a while. >> Okay. They they cut trees down. Huh? >> They cut trees down. >> No, >> you said tree. >> Tree hangers. >> What's that mean? >> I mean they hang out sit around the tree. >> Yeah. I figure it swang for something, but they're just hanging out under a tree. [laughter] After more than two hours of interrogation, detectives stepped out of the room. When they returned, they had something new to tell Henry. >> So, here's what's up. >> Today's the most important day of your life. All right? I'm going to shoot you straight. You got tough decisions to make, but there's really only one right answer. So, we've told you a lot, but we haven't told you everything. Um, and you've been pretty honest with us, and I'm I appreciate that. But [snorts] there's a lot more to this than what we've told you, what we what we let on. So, there's other people down here that we're interviewing at the same time about a case. It's way bigger than some traffic charges. >> Yeah. I don't figure that much out. I just don't know what. >> Okay. Well, you're going to you're going to know in a second. Um, and these people, so this is this is a choice you get to make. You're at what they call a crossroads in your life. Okay? There's two paths you can take. One goes this way, one goes this way. One can lead to Henry still being Henry out living a a life potentially one day because we know what Henry's all about. He's not somebody that's going around doing violent things, doing vicious things to people. But somehow Henry got caught up in something. You got put in the middle of something and now it's spiraling out of control because these other people involved because this is your vehicle involved that you're in are going to point the finger at you and they've already started to do that because no one wants to go to prison for the rest of their life. Nobody. >> From this point, the audio was cut during the interrogation for the next 3 hours. A large black square appeared on screen redacting the evidence being shown to Henry. And nearly eight hours later, the audio returned and Henry could be heard telling detectives, >> "Ain't nothing else I can give you. I don't think I need an attorney." Once Henry asked for an attorney, detectives wrapped up the interview and left the room. Even so, the evidence against him was already substantial. From Henry's phone records, detectives discovered that his phone had pinged a tower near Jacksonville Beach on the night of the murder. Strangely to say, Henry had two phones, and both showed gaps in location data before 6:00 p.m. on the day Jared was killed. And roughly 40 minutes after the murder, both phones reconnected in the area of Beaches Baptist Hospital, about 1.4 miles from the crime scene. >> Detectives began looking into him. They were able to find his tag registration. They were able to find that he owned a truck similar to the one they saw on surveillance video, similar to the murder truck. So, they arrested him in August of 2022 for driving charges, driving on a suspended license to further their investigation. They were able to obtain a phone off of his person. They were able to get a set of car keys from his pocket that belonged to a Ford F-150, even though he was driving a Crown Vic. And even though there was no sighting or sign of the truck that he had inherited from his father, they pulled his bank records from his phone. They were able to obtain a phone number, an email address, and they were able to get Google location data. Something you'll hear about during this trial, something that existed and was new at the time and now is no longer kept for law enforcement purposes by Google. A moment in time, detectives were able to get this information. And what it told them was that Henry Tenant's phone number, email address linked to his Android phone were in Jacksonville Beach the night of February 16th, 2022. >> What ultimately sealed Henry's fate was DNA evidence recovered from the tire left on the road, which matched his own DNA, confirming he was the one who pulled the trigger that killed Jared. Yet, looking into Henry's background, detectives found no connection between him and Jared. He had never met Jared before the night of the murder. And this left detectives wondering why he would go to such lengths to kill a man he had never met before. Further digging into his life, bank accounts, and personal records eventually begins to uncover disturbing details that would help investigators crack the case. >> Only connection to Jared Brideigan is this defendant, Mario Fernandez. >> Mario Fernandez had married Shauna after her divorce from Jared. Detectives found that Henry had been a tenant in a property managed by Mario. Strangely, Henry's financial records also revealed something troubling. 45 days after the murder, detectives found that he had deposited three checks. First was on March 28th, 2022, which he deposited $2,000. Another was on March 29th, 2022, which he deposited $3,000. And lastly was on April 4th, 2022, which turns out to be $5,000. According to his financial history, his bank account balance rarely exceeded $400, making this sudden flow of cash highly suspicious. The checks Henry deposited had been written from an account belonging to First Choice Home Rentals LLC, a company owned by Shauna Gardner and her new husband, Mario. The company also received incoming transfers from Shauna's trust fund, which her parents had established. Mario had been named a joint owner and trustee of the fund, giving him direct control over the flow of money. With this discovery, Mario was brought in for questioning. >> Listen, man. I appreciate you coming in. Um, so basically what we're trying to do, uh, we're just trying to get an idea about Jared. Um, who he is, how he was, um, the dynamic, you know, from we're looking, it's just it's just some some stuff that we're looking to kind of get questions or answers to. Um and obviously you being um and in being in that dynamic you you should be able to give us an interesting perspective. >> Um >> so where I would like to start man is just uh >> how did uh so I guess we'll go back to the beginning when when you met Shana, right? Like how did that happen? So, um, at that when we when we met, we were both working for, um, Black Hive for the CrossFit gym. >> Um, I was the maintenance guy. She was a coach. >> And, uh, that's just kind of how it all began. I, uh, I got introduced to the kids, saw how things were. Um, and for Shannon and I, it was a bit of a unique situation because because of the type of person Jared was. Um, Shannon and I, we pretty much sealed the deal very early in the relationship because there was no way I was going to be able to help her with anything relevant to the kids if we weren't. >> Mhm. >> There there's it was just impossible. So, for me and with Shana, it was very much a, hey, we can't really have a relationship if your kids don't like me. That started with that. >> Right. Right. you know, um and then from there we just moved forward, but then um I guess coming into the kids' lives and then I remember reaching out to Jared and I let him know like I I said particularly I said is Shannon and I got married. I told him, "Hey man, now that I'm going to be in the kids' lives more often, you know, maybe you and I should like have a chat." >> Mhm. >> Nothing. I got nothing. >> Was that done over phone, text, person text? and he just didn't send you nothing back. >> Nope. >> Is that the only time you ever tried to reach out to him? >> So after that, we were all in a uh group text message. >> And there were lots of times where like if you look at like our our emails, text messages, our exchanges, it's very to me it's just pestering. It's very annoying. I don't I don't like that. I I I'd much rather do what we're doing right now. We'll all sit down >> and if we have something to confront, we'll do it together, >> right? >> You know, we can talk about it. >> I've I extended that to them plenty of times where it's like, why don't you guys come over and we'll talk about this. We'll figure something out, something like that. I've even thrown in stuff where it's in regards to because they they're practicing um you know, they're religious and they practice the Mormon religion. Right. >> Sh has that background >> and there are certain things that we could put in play that is just like their religion >> where we could do it in a stable place. >> Hell no. [clears throat] No way in hell. The the one of the best things that I got with Jared, I went to pick the kids up one time. This had to have been like three years ago. I went to go pick the kids up and I'm I'm not the type to like not just knock on the door and be like, "Hey, I'm here." You know, versus like sending a text. >> Mhm. >> So, I parked outside, went to go knock on the door. Kids come running out and they're freaking out. They're losing their [ __ ] >> They're like, "You're not supposed to knock on the door." They're like scared. >> I'm like, "What's going on?" Like, "Well, dad said you're not supposed no one's supposed to knock on the door. You guys can't knock." And I was like, "Okay, I can do whatever I want, you know, and he can tell me that." >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And I just stood at the door. The kids got out and I was like, "All right, man. You good?" Like, I could see him. >> Yeah. >> He refused to turn around. Liam shut the door. Then I got a text message saying, >> um, if I ever knock on his door and come in his property like that, that he was going to file a restraining order against me. >> Was this before you were married? >> This is after. >> This is So this was after you were married. So this was after you [laughter] became a steparent. Yep. >> Um, were there any instances like that before you got married to Shana? >> Before that, because I was introduced to the kids and the kids like, you know, they would talk about me. That stuff more or less went to Shana. It wasn't I never received anything particular. The dude never spoke to me. >> Yeah. >> The one time where he said Well, actually, no, he didn't even direct anything to me. But the only time we've seen them really in person outside of when we do the exchanges with the kids or stuff or the kids are doing something >> is uh when we were in court. They came in, I went to shake their hands. Uh his wife shook my hand and he just looked right at his lawyer and just refused to say anything. >> Wow. Yeah, that's rough. >> Um that's crazy, man. Um so outside of court, uh how many interactions were there? Like did y'all go to like like gymnastics stuff? I know your wife she's in gymnastics. >> So Abigail's in gymnastics and she hasn't had any performances, but I know that Abigail has told us like that he just drops her off and then leaves, goes home, then comes back even though they live like 5 minutes away. >> Mhm. >> Obviously, because we're so far away, we're in there. I'll I'll go in and I'll let her know like, "Hey man, you stop being a chatty Kathy and like practice, you know, stuff like that." >> Yeah. Yeah. Um but they never stayed. I've gone on their weeks too and just to like take pictures of Abby and like you know get progress in and nothing. Um the only other time that we had a interaction was um Abby was in dance and she had a she had a recital. >> Mario and Jared had never communicated before Jared's death and Jared had never wanted Mario near the children he shared with Shauna. Despite this, the tension between the two men was something deep that had been building for years. >> So, let's let's come to date night. Um, and you know, we're just trying to get an idea about how it works. Um, kind of what happened that night. Um, I know it got shifted because of >> uh gymnastics. So, like typically on a typical date night when Jared would come and pick up the kids, how did that how did it go from like start to end? >> So, he usually pulls up texts here. >> The kids walk out and we usually watch them get in the car and then when they come home, they just come in. We've taught them how to have a keypad on the house. >> So, if the garage is closed, they hit the keypad or they just come in through the garage and we know they're home. And usually like the dogs lose their [ __ ] for a quick second and we know they're home >> and that's it. That's exactly how it goes. Um, is there ever any communication about like where they're going or what they're going to do or anything like that? Nothing like that. >> Nope. >> Um, so let's go to that night. >> We we actually we usually ask the kids. >> Mhm. >> It's like, "Hey, what do you guys you know, what are you guys thinking you're going to do for date night? Where do you guys want to go eat?" That way they can voice that to him. >> Mhm. >> But it's it's a bit annoying cuz before we've tried to kind of integrate that where it's like you guys can make choices, too. >> Yeah. And then we'll be like, "Why don't you guys call him Tuesday >> so that way you guys can, you know, be like, "Hey, we want to go here." And that way you have a good shot of going there if that's where you want to go. Cuz there have been times we're like, >> "Oh, well, I don't want to go there. We ended up going to this place and I didn't like it." Blah, blah, blah. You know, it's like, "Why don't you let them know ahead of time? You know, that'll work. It'll help you guys." And then they'll tell them and they're like, "Well, we'll think about it." And then that's not where they go. >> So that decision was typically made by Jared without the kids input. >> Oh, yeah. Was it made like almost in spot like was he ever take their input or was it just like this is my show, I'm running it. I'm doing it. >> I don't really know to be honest. There was some there were some times when it's like >> I can't even remember that any time that the kids were like, "Oh yeah, we asked to go here and that's where we went." >> Yeah. >> It was more of, "Oh, we went to Firehouse." And then they can agree to like Firehouse. So they everybody's happy at that moment. >> Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. So, let's go back to that particular date night and we're just kind of trying to work his night and figure out everything that happened. So, he comes and picks the kids up at what time? >> 6:30. >> 6:30. Um, he sends a text message saying I'm here and then the kids run out, get in the car, and they leave. >> Yep. >> Right. Um, and then what time did they come back? >> 7:45. >> 7:45. Okay. And did you see the kids come in? No, I heard them come in cuz uh they hit I was I was I was racked out on my couch. So they came in, shut the door, dogs start barking, my dog starts barking and that's how I know they're there. I come in. Hi mom. You know, and uh they both went upstairs. >> I got up, went to take a shower, that's pretty much how we know they're there. >> Yeah. So Shana greeted them when they came in. >> Mhm. Okay. Um, did when you said they went upstairs, did you did you talk to him at all that night or >> Shana did um I was I was really out of it and um I take um I take gavapentin and high doses and then at those moments I'm just like zoned out. >> So like that night I was more out of it more than anything. >> So you wouldn't remember the kids talking about anything that may have happened? Oh, I would have, but I didn't because they usually by the time they come home, [clears throat] they get in, they either have another snack. I don't remember any of that cuz I was in the shower. They'll have another snack, then they'll go and shower and everything else and prep to go to sleep because they they go they're in bed by 9:00. >> Yeah. >> So, that what hour and 15 minutes? Yeah, >> technically it was a they drink water, they went upstairs, they had free time, the Liam comes back downstairs to shower and um yeah, we just asked them like, "How was everything? How was date night?" Actually, that that was it. It was they told us they went to bearded peg and um that that that particular date night was fine and that was it. So, they didn't remember anything that may have happened at the >> The only thing The only thing they mentioned was that um Jared had a phone call and they had to wait in the car. They couldn't go inside yet, so they just had to sit there and wait. And that was it. >> This may just show my uh my lack of knowledge on this, but what's gap? >> Um Galapenton is a um it's like a nerve blocker. >> Okay. >> And it's for pain. So they give it to me for uh for pain and for headaches. >> Okay. Does it make you like groggy or anything like that? >> Yeah. >> Although Mario claimed he was home on the day of the murder, detectives suspected he knew more than he was letting on. He was released for the time being, but detectives obtained his phone and downloaded his records, and that's when everything began to fall out. The record showed that Mario and Henry had exchanged more than 60 phone calls before the murder, including several communications on the day it happened. With this evidence, the checks paid to Henry, the phone records, and the repeated contact between the two men, Mario was arrested days later. Slook your arms up. >> What does that mean? >> Even after his arrest, the true mastermind behind the murder was still free. When detectives spoke with one of Shauna's friends, Kim Jensen, the pieces and the motive behind the murder began to come together, leading to a discovery that would change the direction of the entire case. >> This is about Jared and what happened to him. >> Yeah. >> Someone had said that you knew Jared even before Shannon. Is that correct or no? >> Oh, I've known Jared and his family since he was like 12 or 13 years old. Whenever they moved to Jacksonville from wherever they moved, we were never close, but >> Yeah. Yeah, >> I've known him since he was a kid. I knew the girls that he dated when he was a teenager. I knew, you know what I mean? Like I've known that family for probably 20 years. >> Okay. Are are you do you go to the same church as him? You're the same word. Okay. >> So, tell me a little bit about Jared and his family from what you can remember. Anything stand out? >> We were never friends. I knew his mother. I was friendly. I'm one of those people that I'm just what you see is what you get. I'm real. If I don't like you, I won't be friends with you. But I will be kind. You know what I mean? Like I'll say good morning and keep on walking down the hall of the church, whatever, >> of course. >> Um, so >> I knew his family from a distance. I did attend a baby shower or two that maybe his mom hosted at their home. >> Um, but we were never close by any means. Um Jared was Jared was a he was kind of quiet as a kid. Um >> he never had a lot of friends. Um the girls he dated in the church. >> Um two things that I remember always never dated a girl that wasn't loaded with money and never didn't end the relationship that >> everyone talked about what a jerk he was. >> He was the guy that broke the girl's hearts. He was, you know, he he he puts on, you know what I mean? He would he would be nice at first and then the real Jared would come out. >> Um when then I met Shana, I knew about Shana when he married her um because his mom was so excited because she was, you know, from this rich family and you know, their life was going to be so great and blah blah blah. And then she had twins and ended up having pulmonary hypertension. >> Mhm. >> And they had to move to Florida. So I met Shana about maybe eight and a half years ago. >> Okay. >> And I have twins. So and she actually was one of my teenage daughter's teachers in the youth program. And so she and I got to be friends while she was still married to Jared because number one, I knew his family. Number two, I felt sorry for her that she married him. Number three, she taught my kid and we kind of had that common bond with the twin thing. >> So that's how she and I became friends. Okay. >> And then as time went on, probably with, you know, within a year of them moving here, like she and I became better and better friends. And now, you know, I probably talk to Shana five, six times a week, maybe every day. >> Okay. So, you say you guys are really good friends. >> We're really good friends. >> We're really good friends. I was the only person I was one of the few people who stood beside her when they got divorced. Um, when the divorce happened. Um, like I knew that she was going to tell him kind of a thing. I knew he was going to flip out um >> just because of the personality that I had always remembered or whatever. Um he went around and he accused her of having an affair to everyone. And the way it worked was at the very beginning the kids would be with her from, you know, for for two days and then they kept them at the home and then for 3 days she'd have them and then you kind of went back and forth on a two three kind of thing. Mhm. >> And the days that she did not have the children, she often times spent the night at my house and he was running around, oh, she's off. She didn't come home last night. She's sleeping with it. And she was on my couch. She didn't sleep with anybody, right? >> Um, so it was not hard for me to stand by her because I knew where she was cuz she was with me most of the time. We kind of like adopted her and the kids and you know so that's how she and I became better friends than we were and why we are good friends today. >> Gotcha. >> So >> Gotcha. You made a comment uh that you were kind of sorry she married Jared. What what do you mean by that? >> Only because anyone that I had known that he'd ever dated would always end up where the girl was hurt. >> Gotcha. Okay. So just kind of a track record of >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. His track record was hurting girls and never dating anyone that had money. In fact, it was always interesting because to me, just because >> I always thought he had an algorithm or something for it. You know what I mean? Like, how do you how does a dude go for three girls in a row that have a freaking trust fund? Like, how does any guy get that lucky? How does anyone get that? You know what I mean? Like, it almost makes you think >> he's got a system or you know what I mean? Like, I just don't think anyone had is that good of luck. >> Okay. Okay. or or your perception of his other brothers? >> I only knew I only vaguely knew Justin and only because Justin was older. Um, [clears throat] and I mean Jared was the youngest. I never knew the sister Ashley. >> I don't even ever remember her. She may have been like gone before they moved. Like I have zero memory of her other than >> throughout the years like she would come visit and I oh this our daughter Ashley and I was like I she looks just like her mom so you know what I mean it was easy to see that but I never had I never knew her. >> Justin married Gwen and had the little boy and I think they were living in North Carolina and then they moved back and so they were in the ward at church for a brief period of time. She was a teacher in the little kids program and I was over that program. So, I got to know her, >> but I only knew who he was. I know he would give a talk and he was a good speaker. Do you know what I mean? But I never knew Justin. >> Yeah. >> Adam was married to Carly >> who they were in the ward for some time. Um, she worked in the youth program with my oldest daughter and they were very good friends. Um, I always thought Adam was gay. He was I mean his job he was a manny. He like babysat >> and even married your babysitting. You know what I mean? Like that was just weird to me. Like I would I would never leave my children with a guy. >> Even if you know what I mean even if even if I knew you at church like to that's just weird to me. >> And so I always thought he was weird. >> Like he's very nice but >> that always struck me as weird. Any guy that has babysitter as your job is weird to me, but I might be a little touchy. I don't know. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] >> I'm just being honest. >> I totally understand. >> So, >> and so, you know, you you're you're friends with Shana. You kind of see what's going on with Jared and her. You know, what in your opinion, like what was kind of the cause of their divorce? >> The c Well, so he was very So, like I used to go over the house and like he was very antisocial. like he didn't if if you if I went over, you know, so I could walk. We both lived in Ponavra. I could it was a long walk, but I could walk from my house to hers in about half an hour. So sometimes, you know, I mean, we go for a walk in the evening. I go over there, hang out, you know, maybe I'd walk back, maybe she'd drive me home, whatever. Um you I'd walk in and he would instantly go to his bedroom. >> Okay. Um, anytime I was there during the day, he had zero engagement or involvement. He pretty much stayed in his bedroom unless it was time to eat or he had to come out for some reason. He pretty much stayed in his bedroom. He was on his laptop. Um, he never worked the entire time they were married. >> That to me is a red flag. You got a husband that doesn't work. You know what I mean? You married the rich girl and now you're you're you don't work. Um, and the family did give stipens to for education. Education is very important to Shana's family. And so if either of you were in school, you got a monthly stipen that would cover your expenses. So, nobody had to work, but he kept himself in school. You know what I mean? It was the bachelor's, then it was the master's, you know what I mean? Like, he kept himself in school to not work. Gotcha. >> Um I always thought he was lazy. Um his he's very much like his father. I know that when they were going through the divorce, his mother tried to be my friend, >> which I found funny because you're just fishing. You just want me to give you something that will help him kind of a thing. You know what I mean? Like it was so obvious like we've never been friends in, you know, 16 years and now all of a sudden you want to be my friend. That's just kind of weird. Um you know, it was like, "Oh, how's Shana?" Uh, you know, I mean, I you don't care. >> So, what did you what did you think when you first heard about Jared, you know, getting killed? >> Well, Shana called me on Thursday morning after it happened and I could tell by her voice something was wrong. And she said, "Jared's dead." And I said, "I'm sorry, what did you just say?" And she said, "Did you hear about that shooting last night in Jack's Beach?" And I said, "No." And she said, she said, "It was him. It was him." And I said, "What?" You know, like I just I couldn't process it. You know what I mean? Like I couldn't it was it was I was shocked. You know what I mean? like and she just and and then then she told me that what had happened and that Kirsten was coming over and they were going to tell the kids together and um I didn't have the time to put in to the conversation because I was it was like 7 o'clock in the morning and I was leaving for the airport to go bury my mother-in-law and So like, [laughter] you know what I mean? >> She, you know, so I I just >> and I was like, >> and then I was torn between, you know what I mean? It's like I had to go do that, >> but I knew she probably needed, you know what [laughter] I mean? So it's like, >> so, you know, and then as people started finding out, they were texting me and and I just I happened to have Wi-Fi on the plane, whatever flight we were on. I don't remember American or Delta, one of them. But >> and so it was like, "Oh my gosh, have you heard?" You know what I mean? And I was like, "Yeah." And and you know what I mean? And they're just like, "Oh my gosh, that's the craziest thing." And you know what I mean? And >> so I mean it was just more of a shock than anything. >> You know what I mean? Like it was I I can remember saying I'm sorry. What? I must have said it three times. Like are you kidding me? Right. Like you know what I mean? Like I just thought it was like like I was in like Bizarro World or something. It was like I just couldn't >> you know I mean and then >> you know of course the days just started unfolding and you know what I mean? And then, you know, so then I started following the story from the plane and you know what I mean? That kind of a thing. And it was just it was just so it was just so hard to wrap my head around, >> right? >> That it that it happened to him. >> Mhm. >> You know what I mean? >> So just knowing knowing Jared, knowing Shana, knowing the whole family, knowing, you know, you probably have a better insight into their marriage and everything, just um into Jared really. You know, you saw his personality, whatever. I'm not trying to I don't want to lead you, but in your in your brain, in your conscience, your soul, what what do you think happened to him? >> Well, it was always about money with him. >> Mhm. >> Always. Um, and he was into he was a Freemason, he and his dad. And to me, that's just some shady crap. >> I'm sorry if you know what I mean. Like, that's some shady crap. And I figured it was a money thing, you know what I mean? That was my first gut was who'd you piss off, >> you know what I mean? Who' you who did your money, you know what I mean? Some deal went bad was what my first thought was. >> Whether or not it was the Freemason thing, I don't know. You know what I mean? But I do know he was into that. And and when I say into it, cuz like I know a lot of people who are members of that, >> I've done a I've done a lot of research on that. Mhm. >> Um >> I think it's weird. >> I think it's a one of those secret society things. You're not allowed to tell your wife anything. You know what I mean? Like anything where you are asked to keep secrets from the one person that you're supposed to be able to tell everything to >> is sketchy to me. >> Yeah. you know, but because I know of his love for money and that that's what drove him, my head automatically went. I figured the two as the story unfolded, I figured there was two scenarios. Either it was a business deal gone bad or maybe some like random gang initiation or you know what I mean? Like some weird thing like that. You know what I mean? >> I don't know. That's my first thought was money from the beginning. >> Mhm. >> After speaking with Kim, detectives obtained her consent and downloaded her phone records. When they went through it, they found some disturbing text between her and Shana. Around May 2015, Shauna had texted Kim writing, "Shit, I'm just not having a good day." Then Kim replied to her in some coded language, "Don't write the day off as bad yet. I'm still trying to send stupid to prison." Kim then continued to say, "If I can't make a casserole, prison is the next best option." Meanwhile, in another exchange, Shauna texted to Kim, "I'm at church. I'm fabulous. My favorite place on earth." Kim replied to her saying, "Deep breaths. It's going to be okay. I'll talk to you as soon as you get out. Just [music] breathe. You'll work out all of this frustration at the gym later." Kim then added saying that if not, I know Sue's husband knows people. Lol. Shauna replied, "Just when I think doing this whole one week off on thing is a good idea, it gives me such great pleasure imagining slitting his throat." Unfortunately, this was not the only text Kim sent concerning this. Detectives also uncovered more messages between Kim and another woman, Susan Lee. Kim had texted Susan asking her, "Shauna needs a guy." Susan then replied, "What kind of guy?" That was when Kim answered, "The kind that performs permanent disappearing acts on certain people. know any magicians? Susan replied, "Magician? No, that I do not." For stupid, Kim wrote back, "I was thinking Thomas." LOL. [music] Susan responded, "He isn't a magician, but I'll ask if he knows any." Then she added, "I'm sure her ex knows a few." From these messages, detectives concluded that Shauna was the mastermind behind the murder, and that she had used her money and Mario to carry her plans out. By this time, however, Shauna had already fled to Washington, where she was living in a million-dollar home with the twins. Despite this, detectives obtained an arrest warrant and took her into custody. Can I be with the kids or can you at least bring the kids out to me? >> Yeah, we'll have to talk to these officers inside. Okay. I'm I'm here, Shana. I'm outside. >> Oh, they're going to call you. >> Oh, yeah. You can roll up to the front if you want. >> Yep. Is that okay? >> Sorry. >> Abby, let's say you have orders on your on the Instagram. I was managing for you. You have orders. >> So, just have grandma help you get into >> Where are your jeans, Mom? >> Uh, >> I know where they are. They're on my counter. >> Let her take the prescription medication. Where is that? >> I have >> Yeah, they'll let her take what she has and then they'll order more if they have to. Yeah. >> Do you want to get All my medications [clears throat] are in my bathroom on the counter and the drawer under the right seat. It has a box that I don't have, but you guys call my >> We just need to see like it's a valid It's got to be the white vehicle back there. >> We'll go to the >> Love you, honey. >> passenger side. >> Passenger side. Yeah. >> Shauna and Mario were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation to commit a capital felony. During Shauna's bond hearing, prosecutors laid out the incriminating text messages >> knows someone and she says Shannon needs a guy and what direction does this conversation take? Basically, this just reaching out to Miss Lee and stating, "Hey, uh, Shannon needs a guy who does permanent disappearing acts." Um, and she says that she needs a magician for stupid. Refer to Mr. Broadan and ask if she knows anyone who can basically accomplish this. And then the messages between Miss Gardener and Miss Jensen following that conversation, do they again reference this idea of magic or magician? >> Yes, they're sitting they're initially talking about ways to destroy Mr. Bride again uh in reference to feeding him things that might get from a heart attack. And then Shannon makes the comment that the best time for quote unquote magic is when they're amicable. And then here she and Miss Jensen are discussing the potential individuals they could contact including someone named Matt. >> Yeah. She makes reference to Matt who she had talked to earlier who was the trainer from the the YMCA that she had the alleged affair with. >> Okay. We don't need to get into that for purposes of this hearing. They're referring to someone named Nick and she says between one of those four. So we have several people. Matt, Nick, the individual that she was speaking to Miss Lee about. Um, and they start referring to them by code names. So, M. And then the next slide, which is the there's two days of followup, July 21st and July 22nd. This is Miss Gardner in the dark gray. And she is asking Miss Jensen, do I legit ask Matt about people? Miss Jensen says to wait, she says nothing. And then the next day they're again ask can I ask M today and to see what H says now these text messages this is not the only contact that Miss Gardner and Miss Jensen are having they're not just solely communicating by text are they? >> No they're communicating via phone in other ways as well. >> So in some of these text messages are there points where the conversation ends and a phone call begins? >> Correct. Early fall of 2022, did you ever expect your sister Shana to move from Jacksonville Beach? >> No. >> And why did you not expect her to move? >> Because she stated she had roots here. She wasn't interested in leaving. She had a business. There was no reason for her to go. >> And did that hold true even shortly after uh Jared Bridean had been killed? >> Yes. And because you actually came to Jacksonville shortly after Jared Bridean had been killed. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Can you tell Judge Kite the circumstances under which you came to Jacksonville? >> Yes. I and a lot of my family came for the memorial for Jared. >> And when you mean memorial, what are you speaking about? the event that Shana planned um so that the children could have time to mourn their father and um have closure. >> And the extended gardener family or many of them flew in for that? >> Yes. >> And was it organized? >> It was very organized. >> Who organized it? >> Shana. >> Where did it take place? >> At the beach house. >> Was there a photographer there? Yes. >> Why was there a photographer there? >> Because um Shana felt because the kids were so young, she wanted them to remember that day. She wanted them to have um [snorts] a reference of that day >> about their father. >> About their father. >> Now, I want to fast forward to fall of 2022. Had things changed for Shana in in Jacksonville Beach? >> Yes. >> What had changed? >> Uh her business was failing. Um the kids were other kids at school were saying things to her kids that were not nice. Um she was being bullied by media. The children were not feeling safe and neither was she. >> And ma'am, we heard from Mara Rogers, but uh her son, your nephew, has a heart condition. >> Yes. How does that limit where he can live? >> He can't go anywhere above 1,000 ft elevation, >> but one of the places he could go was West Richland, Washington, where Marlo Rogers live. >> Yes. >> And Miss Gardner ended up moving to West Richland, Washington. Is that right? >> That's correct. >> Did you facilitate that move? >> I drove with her cross country. >> In what vehicle? >> In the minivan that was purchased here in Jacksonville. And did Miss Gardner do anything or did you make any observations of Miss Gardner as you all left the state of Florida? >> Yes, as we were crossing the Florida line, she became very emotional and started crying. >> Did she have any outbursts or say anything when she was crying? Um I I asked her why she was crying and and she said that um she was heartbroken because this was her home and she felt like she was being run out of her home. >> Now after Shana was arrested in August of 2023, who had been the primary caregivers for her children? >> She had been. >> And after her arrest? >> After her arrest, uh my dad and Shelley. And how old is your father? >> He's 74. >> And how old is Mrs. Gardner? >> 62. >> And have they essentially moved to Washington State? >> Yes. >> Do you uh fly out to Washington State from Utah to assist them? >> I do. >> About how often? >> Uh it's worked out to be about every other month for a week. >> When you go out there and um essentially imagine you're giving your parents a break. Is that >> Yes. When you go out and give your parents a break, um, have you observed the impact on the twins by their limited contact with Miss Gardener? >> Yes. >> Can you tell the judge about the impact? >> Uh, there have been several times when they've become upset and they've [clears throat] expressed wanting to speak to their mother and because she can only speak to them certain times of the day, um, she's not readily available for them. And does she have a special connection with her son? >> She does. >> Can you tell Judge Kite about that? >> Uh [clears throat] there have been times where uh LB has had problems um when he's been struggling and uh later on, you know, when Shana has called, we'll find that she's been having a rough day also. So it's it's a connection that that goes beyond distance. Now, were you ever aware that Miss Gardner had left her children in Washington and come back to the Southeast after Mr. Fernandez had been arrested? >> Yes. >> And what was your understanding as to why she did that? >> It was uh to protect the kids in case she was arrested. Um that she was so that she would be here to be available to be turn herself in if needed. Now, does the Gardener family have any homes out of this country? >> No. >> Any family that lives abroad? >> No. >> After um well, Miss Miss Gardner Shana eventually returned to Washington State after many months. >> Yes. >> What steps did the family take after she returned to Washington? Uh with respect to the possibility of her being arrested, >> uh there was always a member of our family with her. Um in in the event that she was arrested, we wanted to ensure that there was someone there with the kids so that it's um it would be as least traumatic as possible for them. >> And did you perform that duty at time? >> I did. >> Did other family members do the same? >> Yes. Following the bond hearing, Shauna's trial was set to begin on September 8th, 2026. Meanwhile, Mario's trial is currently ongoing, and a verdict is still pending. As for Henry Tenant, he initially pleaded guilty to seconddegree murder and agreed to testify against Shauna and Mario, but he later withdrew that plea, claiming his earlier statement had been false testimony against them. Henry now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, child abuse, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His trial is set for April 2027.