In a lengthy hearing before Mario Fernandez Saldana's upcoming trial in Jared Bridegan's murder plot, it was publicly introduced that prosecutors have evidence that the previously self-incriminated shooter was not alone the night of the ambush.
The hearing mostly focused on motions to prevent a jail inmate
, one of Shanna Gardner's friends and one of Gardner and Bridegan’s children from testifying about certain events.In one exchange with the judge and defense attorneys, Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi stated prosecutors "have overwhelming evidence that there was a conspiracy in this case."
"We know that multiple people were involved," Mizrahi said. "When the victim was killed, there was a person that fled on foot and a person that fled in the vehicle.
We know that Henry Tenon left his DNA behind on that tire and we know that Henry Tenon was not driving the pickup truck that fled the scene.
"And we know that the defendant Mario Fernandez has a connection with Tenon based on the relationship of being landlord/tenant, but also their communications between each other," he continued. "So we know that they had communicated in the days, weeks and on the day of the particular crime and afterwards."
It has been widely reported that a tire was placed on the road where Bridegan was expected to be on his way home after dropping his shared-custody children off to ex-wife Gardner and her new husband Fernandez Saldana in Jacksonville Beach. When he stopped to move it off the road, he was shot and killed.
A truck was captured on video leaving the scene and was traced to Tenon, who pleaded guilty to being the triggerman hired to do the deed but later had the plea retracted and was granted a separate trial.
But what has not been publicly evident was that someone else was driving the truck, at least when fleeing the scene.
Mizrahi didn't say who is believed to be the driver, but no one else has been charged in the case nor have authorities publicly said they're still seeking another accomplice. The statement during the July 31 pretrial hearing didn't draw any particular reaction by the other attorneys or judge. Mizrahi noted the state has provided all its evidence to the defense as required. So it's not new to them but new to most people following the case.
The Times-Union reviewed previously released documents in the case requested through open records laws and found specific references to what Mizrahi was talking about. Security video showed a man believed to be Tenon walking away from the scene shortly after the murder.
The supplemental reports also went into great detail about cellphone records tracking communication between Fernandez Saldana, Tenon and another redacted individual the day before the murder and hours before. There also were noticeable data omissions on the night of the murder "suggesting the phones were turned off or placed in airplane mode not to send or receive calls or messages." Tenon also had two cellphones that were tracked that night.
Fernandez Saldana's jury selection is expected to begin Aug. 10, followed by his estranged wife Gardner on Aug. 31 and then Tenon next year on March 29.
Bridegan, 33, and Gardner were mired in a bitter custody dispute involving their twin children. Fernandez Saldana and Gardner are accused of orchestrating Bridegan's demise by hiring Tenon to kill him.
Scott Butler has been an editor/reporter specializing in public safety coverage for 26 years with The Florida Times-Union. He can be reached at sbutler@jacksonville.com.
(This story has been updated with new details.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Prosecutor says Tenon was not alone the night of Bridegan's murder
