JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new document reveals the details of a meeting between the confessed killer in Jared Bridegan’s murder, the State and his attorney, after Tenon had claimed his testimony was “false” in an open courtroom. 

During a Jan. 13 hearing, Tenon told the judge that he wanted to “bring false testimony” to her attention. 

The meeting detailed in the document took place the next day on Jan. 14, where Tenon’s attorney, Alan Chipperfield, and Assistant State Attorneys Alan Mizrahi and Christina Stifler, as well as State Attorney Investigator Casey Bennett. 

The summary has been entered into discovery in Bridegan’s murder case at the request of his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, who is charged in his murder along with Tenon and her second husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana.

Tenon pleaded guilty to being the shooter in what prosecutors say was an elaborate plan to kill Bridegan. As part of his plea deal, he has agreed to testify in the trial against Gardner and Fernandez.

During the meeting, Tenon expressed doubts about his plea agreement and cooperation with authorities.

He initially tried to say he had only confessed to the crime because when police brought in Fernandez, the state would interview him and learn that he was innocent.

“Mizrahi told Tenon that it did not make sense for Tenon to confess to a crime he did not commit in order to prove he did not commit the crime,” the document says. 

Mizrahi asked Tenon what led to his statements in the courtroom the day before and whether someone had threatened or paid him. Tenon denied that any of this had happened. 

Concerns were raised about possible outside influence on Tenon while in jail, but he denied being threatened or paid off. Investigators also questioned whether his family was facing harassment, and while Tenon stated that while he had not heard from his daughter recently, he said this had not happened. 

According to the document, Tenon expressed he was second-guessing his decision to cooperate because he now believed his cooperation would not matter, and despite it, he would nonetheless be sentenced to life. Tenon expressed hopelessness about his future, stating he was already 64 years old. Mizrahi reiterated that the terms of his negotiated plea would allow Tenon to request and potentially be granted “mercy” at a sentencing hearing.

He was reminded that if he had been tried and found guilty in Bridegan’s murder, he would face a minimum of life in prison, as opposed to his sentencing under his plea deal (a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison). 

Mizrahi reviewed the State’s evidence, including DNA linking Tenon to the crime scene, surveillance footage, and cell phone data placing him near the murder location. 

Mizrahi also reminded Tenon of how he had expressed remorse about killing Bridegan, how he had cried when he spoke about the baby in Jared’s car, and how he had expressed he wanted to “do the right thing.” 

Detective Stifler, who has been involved in the case since the night of the murder, reminded Tenon that his previous statements contained details only the true perpetrator would know. She also noted that Tenon’s remorse for the crime could play a role in the court’s sentencing decision. Jared Bridegan’s family, she said, appreciated his willingness to take responsibility.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Tenon reaffirmed his cooperation in the case and promised to apologize to the judge for his outburst.