JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Henry Tenon, the man who admitted to pulling the trigger in the Jared Bridegan case, is now saying his testimony was false.
This revelation comes from a motion filed by the attorney of Mario Fernandez, who, along with his estranged wife Shanna Gardner, is accused of orchestrating the murder of Bridegan, Gardner’s ex-husband.
Bridegan, a father of four, was killed in an ambush-style shooting in Jacksonville Beach in 2022.
News4JAX has been examining newly obtained court documents related to the case.
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A recent court filing reveals that Tenon, who had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against Gardner and Fernandez, is now changing his story.
The filing includes a transcript from a Jan. 13 court hearing where Tenon attempted to inform the judge about his false testimony.
Despite being advised to speak with his lawyer, Tenon insisted on mentioning “false testimony” before requesting a new attorney.
The judge temporarily paused the hearing to discuss the matter with Tenon and his lawyer, but Tenon was not brought back into the courtroom. The hearing was rescheduled for Jan. 22.
Fernandez’s lawyer claims that an email from Judge Kite’s Judicial Assistant on Jan. 15 indicated that the case was postponed nearly three months to April 14, delaying Tenon’s opportunity to address the court. The defense is now seeking various pieces of information related to the case.
Additionally, Fernandez’s lawyer argues that since the state is aware of Tenon’s alleged false testimony, they should disclose what actions have been taken to void Tenon’s plea agreement or explain why it should remain in place. As this story develops, further updates will be provided.