In a dramatic turn of events, police were captured on body camera footage storming the Washington home of Shanna Gardner-Fernandez last Thursday.
The footage, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, shows the arrest of Gardner-Fernandez, 35, who is accused of orchestrating the fatal shooting of her ex-husband, Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, on February 16, 2022.
The raid, conducted by ATF agents and West Richland police officers, is recorded on the officers' bodycams. As Gardner-Fernandez is handcuffed inside her $1 million home, her mother, Shelli Gardner, can be seen sobbing outside the front door. Gardner, the owner of multimillion-dollar papercraft company Stampin' Up!, has been a financial supporter of her daughter for most of her adult life, providing a monthly stipend and purchasing the West Richland home for her last year.
The body camera footage captures the emotional scene as Gardner pleads with an officer to be with her grandchildren, who are heard off camera. Court records reveal that Gardner had applied to be the twins' conservator in May, suggesting that she anticipated her daughter's arrest.
The arrest comes after the murder of Bridegan, who was shot to death in front of his then 2-year-old daughter, Bexley. Bridegan had dropped off the twins at Gardner-Fernandez's house after taking them to dinner and was on his way home to his second wife, Kirsten Bridegan. He was lured from his car by a tire placed in the middle of the road.
Gardner-Fernandez and Bridegan had divorced in 2015 following allegations of infidelity on her part. However, they continued to engage in legal battles over finances and custody of the twins until Bridegan's murder.
Throughout the body camera footage, Gardner-Fernandez appears stunned and compliant, wearing a T-shirt, pajama shorts, and no shoes. Her mother briefly goes inside to find her jeans while Gardner-Fernandez calmly gives instructions to her children. After changing into torn jeans, she says "I love you" to her kids as she is escorted to a police cruiser.
Kirsten Bridegan, the second wife of the victim, expressed gratitude for Gardner-Fernandez's arrest but also expressed heartbreak for the twins. She emphasized the emotional toll they have endured, losing their father to murder and now witnessing their mother's arrest. Kirsten expressed a desire to support the twins and provide them with the love their father would want them to have.
Following her arrest, Gardner-Fernandez was taken to the local police station, where she was cuffed to a metal railing in an interview room for over an hour. In the footage, her eyes appear red and puffy. She asks if she should tidy up the table, expressing remorse, but an officer assures her they will take care of it.
Melissa Nelson, the state attorney for Jacksonville's Fourth Judicial District, announced Gardner-Fernandez's indictment on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and child endangerment. Gardner-Fernandez's new husband, Mario Fernandez, and his former tenant Henry Tenon, who was the shooter, were already charged in the case. Nelson has stated that she is seeking the death penalty against Gardner-Fernandez and her husband, while Tenon is cooperating. Gardner-Fernandez is currently fighting extradition from Washington.
In the aftermath of the murder, Gardner-Fernandez severed all contact between Bridegan's family and the twins. Kirsten Bridegan pleaded with the Gardners to allow the twins to have a relationship with their father's family once again, emphasizing their love and prayers for the children.
Login