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In a surprising twist, Henry Tenon, who previously confessed to the murder of Jared Bridegan, has been granted approval to withdraw his guilty plea and will face trial. This development comes exactly four years and a day after the tragic event that claimed the life of the St. Augustine father of four.
Tenon, now 65, appeared in Duval County court on Tuesday morning with his attorney, Julie Schlax. During the court session, Schlax requested Judge London Kite to allow Tenon to retract his guilty plea. She clarified that the request did not stem from any alleged misconduct, urging the judge to rely on her own judgment in making the decision.
The murder of Jared Bridegan occurred under chilling circumstances. On a fateful day in Jacksonville Beach, Bridegan was shot while attempting to remove a tire obstructing the road. Law enforcement and prosecutors have categorized his death as a “murder-for-hire plot,” allegedly orchestrated by Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, along with her second husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana.
Both Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana are set to face trial alongside Tenon, maintaining their innocence by pleading not guilty to all charges. As the legal proceedings unfold, the community watches closely, seeking justice for the father of four whose life was cut short.
Monday marked four years since Bridegan was murdered while moving a tire out the middle of a road in Jacksonville Beach. Police and prosecutors have called his killing a “murder-for-hire plot” orchestrated by his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, and her second husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana. Both Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana have pleaded not guilty to all their charges.
With Tenon’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea now approved, Tenon is set to go on trial along with Gardner, 32, and Fernandez-Saldana, 37. Tenon is charged with second-degree murder with a weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after the fact and child abuse in the case.
Before backing out, as part of Tenon’s plea agreement, prosecutors would have dropped all of his charges except second-degree murder in exchange for him “truthfully” testifying against Gardner and Fernandez.
Tenon is set to be back in court Monday, March 23 at 9 a.m.
The trial for Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana is scheduled to begin on Aug. 10.