Share and Follow
The legal situation for Henry Tenon, 65, has intensified as a Duval County grand jury has upgraded his charge from second-degree to first-degree murder. This follows his confession to the murder of Jared Bridegan, as revealed by court documents.
In Jacksonville, Florida, Tenon stands accused not only of first-degree murder but also faces allegations of child abuse and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The indictment no longer includes charges of conspiracy to commit murder or being an accessory after the fact.
Recently, Judge London Kite granted Tenon’s petition to retract his guilty plea, allowing him to proceed to trial. Initially, in March 2023, Tenon had admitted to the murder of Bridegan.
This development comes as the community marks four years since Bridegan’s tragic death, which occurred while he was removing a tire from the road in Jacksonville Beach. Authorities have described the incident as a “murder-for-hire plot” believed to be orchestrated by his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, and her subsequent spouse, Mario Fernandez-Saldana.
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, 32, and Fernandez-Saldana, 37, have pleaded not guilty to all their charges. They each face first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse.
According to court records, Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana will be back in court on March 6 at 9 a.m. for a pre-trial hearing. Tenon will be back in court on March 23 at 9 a.m.