Ex-wife of slain Microsoft exec makes surprising legal move after arrest

Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife, who allegedly orchestrated his homicide in Florida for years, was arrested in Washington state, the place she’s preventing her return to the Sunshine State.

Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, who may get the demise penalty if convicted, gained’t waive extradition throughout her first court docket look late Friday afternoon.

The most recent curveball within the winding saga just isn’t the norm for most legal instances involving violent felonies, in line with a number of on-line regulation info websites like hg.org and EN Attorneys, a Maryland-based protection lawfirm.

“Requests for extradition are very hardly ever refused,” EN Attorneys wrote. “Refusing or preventing interstate extradition could also be fruitful in very restricted circumstances. However typically, it solely serves to forestall you from preventing your underlying case. Delaying the method. This may occasionally doubtlessly inhibit your native lawyer from making ready a superb protection to the underlying prices.”

Fernandez is now technically thought of a “fugitive of justice” and might be held within the Benton County Corrections Division in Washington with out bond. 

She is scheduled to return to court docket on September 14 to handle the extradition matter. 

Jared was fatally shot on February 16, 2022, in entrance of his two-year-old daughter, Bexley, after dropping off the twins he fathered with Gardner-Fernandez, at his ex’s home in Jacksonville Seashore, Florida. 

Gardner-Fernandez is allegedly the mastermind behind the murderous plot that she allegedly cooked up with her new husband, Mario Fernandez, and his former tenant Henry Tenon, who admitted he was the shooter.

They allegedly conspired to kill Jared way back to Might 2015, in line with prosecutors.

After Jared’s demise, his Gardner-Fernandez was seen smiling in trip pictures, whereas Jared’s present spouse, Kirsten Bridegan, was left to choose up the items.

“It has been like salt within the wounds,” Kirsten informed Fox Information Digital in her first sit-down interview since Gardner-Fernandez’s Thursday indictment for first-degree homicide, amongst different prices.

“She’s taking the twins on vacations immediately after with Mario, along with her mother and father, with people who we felt very strongly had been concerned on this. It’s sick.”

Gardner-Fernandez and Jared divorced in 2015 however continued to battle over custody of the twins and funds up till his demise.

One month after the stunning homicide, Gardner-Fernandez, her husband, the twins and her mother and father, Shelli and Sterling Gardner, celebrated Spring Break at Membership Med Sandpiper Bay. 

On March 24, days after Jared was buried, Shelli posted pictures of the holiday on her weblog, exhibiting them paddleboarding, kayaking and constructing sand castles. 

Weeks later, Gardner-Fernandez lower off all contact between the twins and their half-siblings. 

“You simply harm extra for the kids understanding that someday they’re going to comprehend these reminiscences and people holidays had been made with people who had been a part of their father’s demise,” Kirsten informed Fox Information Digital as Jared’s brothers, Adam and Justin Bridegan, sat beside her.

Gardner-Fernandez is charged with first-degree homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, solicitation to commit homicide and baby abuse. 

Her arrest and indictment had been introduced Thursday by Florida State Lawyer Melissa Nelson, who stated her workplace will file a discover of intent to hunt the demise penalty.

The subsequent step is for the federal authorities and the state of Florida to show that Gardner-Fernandez is the lady related with the indictment, regulation and security professional Dale Carson informed ActionNewsJax.com.