A second Florida man has been arrested in connection with the death of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, who was found gunned down last year after a date night out with his children.
According to State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith, Mario Fernandez was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree murder with a weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, and accessory after the fact to a capital felony and felony child abuse.
Earlier this year, police arrested suspect Henry Tenon, 61, who was reportedly once a handyman for Fernandez. He’s facing second-degree murder and related charges in connection with Bridegan’s death.
Tenon pleaded not guilty in February, but this week, according to Nelson, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and said he would cooperate with investigators, which led to Fernandez’s arrest.
Fernandez is the current husband of Bridegan’s ex-wife, identified as Shanna Gardner-Fernandez. She has not been charged in connection with the case.
However, law enforcement sources, according to Fox News, said both Hernandez and Gardner-Fernandez are considered suspects.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police say Bridegan saw a rimmed tire in the road while driving back home to St. Augustine on February 16, 2022; he stopped to check on it when an assailant shot him in front of his child, Bexley, who was in the car for several minutes while her father passed away.
“That tire was purposely placed there to make him stop,” Nelson said earlier this year. “His 2-year-old daughter remained strapped in the car seat in the back.”
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to a related episode below.
[Feature Photo: Jared Bridegan, Kristin and their children/Facebook]
