LIVE UPDATES | Day 4 of Mario Fernandez Sladana trial: Lead detective faces 2nd day of grilling by defense

The murder trial for Mario Fernandez Saldana is underway in Jacksonville, Florida, for the 2022 shooting death of Jared Bridegan, a 33-year-old Microsoft senior design manager and father of four. Prosecutors allege Fernandez helped orchestrate a murder-for-hire plot targeting Bridegan and that Henry Tenon, Fernandez’s former tenant and handyman, was the gunman. Prosecutors say Bridegan was ambushed and shot after stopping to move a tire deliberately placed in the road in Jacksonville Beach. Fernandez has pleaded not guilty. His wife, Shanna Gardner, is also charged with first-degree murder, and her trial is scheduled to begin in September. The following are live updates from the courtroom. Tenon faces the same charges. Time notes are Eastern Daylight Time. Please forgive typos.

5:55 p.m. Court recess for the night and will resume at 9 a.m. EDT on Friday.

5:52 p.m. Showing time frame from Dec. 21 to March 22. During those hours of the day — between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. — it starts and continues to 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The chart looks at phone usage.

5:45 p.m. Fernandez’s activity from March 2-6. Phone remained in Clinton, North Carolina, until March 4, and then traveled to Pennsylvania. Phone remained in Penn. until March 5 at 6:50 p.m., then traveled south. The phone leaves Pennsylvania at 6:55 p.m. on March 5 and drives into March 6 — drive time is 13 hours. Phone stopped in Bridgeport, Virginia, for 3 hours; other stops are shorter.

5:41 p.m: Tenon had 2 phones. It appears the phones were separated and came back together between 8:40 p.m. and 9:23 p.m.

5:14 p.m. On Feb. 16 (day of the murder), experts analyzed cell phone locations around 5 p.m. Fernandez’s device was near his house. From 6 p.m. to 6:35 p.m is in the location. Received a call at 6:08 p.m. Last all at 7:09 p.m. Evidence shows 52 outgoing texts at 4:26 p.m.; next text message is at 10:46 p.m. From 7:11 p.m. to 8:19 p.m. we have no timing advance records.

5:33 p.m. There is timing advance data on Fernandez’s phone during a period before and after the time of the murder, but no cell activity. A possible explanation for no cell activity is that the phone was powered off or in airplane mode during a specific period of time.

5:09 p.m. Activity on Feb. 15 (the day before the murder), Fernandez’s phone and Tenon’s phone used the same cell tower in the morning. During the time frame of 4:03 p.m. and 4:55 p.m., Fernandez’s phone is at or near Tenon’s residence. Devices appear to overlap, and we can conclude they share the same location between 4 p.m. and 4:29 pm. At 8:20 p.m., we have no time advance records until 8:48 p.m., 8:55 p.m., 8:58 p.m., 8:59 p.m. On Feb.16, we have time advance records.

4:57 p.m. Court is in recess for a few minutes.

4:54 p.m. Jan. 29 activity shows Tenon’s phone cruising in the Jacksonville Beach area and back to the Potomac residence. For 3 minutes, devices for Tenon and Fernandez are using the same tower.

4:38 p.m. On Jan 29, Fernandez’s phone is moving closer to the area of the Tenon area between 2:05 p.m. and 2:59 p.m. Between 2 p.m. and 2:06 p.m., Tenon’s phone moved east. Between 2:02 p.m. and 2:05 p.m., the Fernandez phone moved within the same area. Possible overlap of 1 to 3 to 4 minutes.

4:35 p.m. On Jan. 25, Slide indicates Fernandez’s phone in the area of Biggerstaff’s home and then leaving.

4:29 p.m. Tenon’s device hits within 3 meters of Fernandez’ house on Jan 5. No cell activity for Fernandez. Tenon’s devices are moving back toward Potomac.

4:21 p.m. Slide 8 shows a map of Fernandez’s location (Pink), Tenon’s location (black), and Biggerstaff’s location (blue). At 10:56 a.m. on Jan. 5: Fernandez is north of Jax Beach; there’s no mapable activity for Fernandez’s phone. Slide 9 shows Tenon’s phone is moving away from the Potomac area.

4:15 p.m. Analyzed data from phone of Mario Fernandez, 2 phone numbers and email for Henry Tenon, and a phone number of John Biggerstaff. Did you plot maps for Fernandez, Tenon, and Biggerstaff? Yes.
Also received location data for:

• 5239 Potomac Avenue
• Elite Gymnastic
• 2810 Dandric Circle

4:10 p.m. Agent Blythe testifies that data he used in his investigation was geolocation history, cell tower information (approximate location depending on how densely placed the towers are); Google is able to show a radius based on GPS data within 3 to 10 meters. Did you receive data regarding 3 phone numbers and one email address? Yes.

4 p.m. Agent Blythe explaining how cellphone towers work.

3:52 p.m. Prosecution witness #15 Agent Bobby Blythe, FBI, Cell Phone Analyst
Member of CAST, Cellular Analysis – testifies about his training and experience

3:27 p.m. Redirect: There were 2 rental properties. Single-family homes. Checks for landscaping and roofing. No hidden language? He said he wasn’t going to pay $3,000 to remove a tree? Yes. End of redirect.

3:23 p.m. Fernandez didn’t have much of a career; he had rental properties, and he was tiling during the call. Shanna’s family is wealthy. That didn’t change Fernandez? Not at all. And you’re still friends to the extent you can be? Yes. Did he seem evasive? No. He was candid about knowing about Tenon? Correct. At the end, there’s 3 people involved. He was talking about how the media was portraying it. He was trying to remember, trying to think back to the conversations with the guy? Correct. You never heard anyone threaten Jared? No. He never asked you to participate or cover up for him? He was working on another rental property. Before he met Gardner, he had the rental properties and supplemented his income through his gym.

3:17 p.m. You and Mario Fernandez are friends. You didn’t know he was being recorded. You heard some stuff. Would you agree that what you were talking about was what you heard in the media? In the first call, the media says something about Shanna. He tells you they’re separated. He started talking about trucks — there’s 7 or 8 minutes of you talking about wanting to buy a Toyota Tundra. You guys are talking about all sorts of stuff. Fernandez never admitted anything about the death of Jared Bridegan. Did Fernandez own dogs? Zero was 10 or 11. As they get older, they get stiff. Mizrahi. While you were friends, there were times she griped about co-parenting with Bridegan. I never asked. He didn’t seem to care; he didn’t jump in and dog Bridegan. She told you that it was bad.
In the second call, you said you had learned that Henry Tenon had been arrested. They’re saying that guy used to live in one of your properties. He told you that Mr. Tenon did work for him after the homicide. You had no clue you were being recorded. This phone conversation is about 11 months after the homicide. This guy did landscaping. The memo line is landscaping. He did tell you he did landscaping. The checks were written in March after the homicide. Did you know the checks were for roofing? I didn’t know.

3:09 p.m. Second call between Carlos Phuong and Mario Fernandez Saldana is played for the jury. Rough translation:

• Phuong: Something broke today, WTF! I thought it was you. There’s no way!
• Fernandez: I don’t know anything I haven’t pulled up anything. I haven’t read anything.
• Phuong: Person named — he’s the one who did it. It’s weird. He knows where you all live.
• Fernandez: It’s an older black guy — he was working for me for a bit. He helped. That’s a quarter-acre lot, he took down trees, did roofing. I’m honestly trying to remember any recollection, any conversation I had with the dude.
• Phuong: You wouldn’t have any pictures of him. WTF!
• Fernandez: I’m waiting to see how it turns out. I have media reaching out — there’s nothing for me to say. Another day on social media. It was October after COVID — it was a f****** sh** show. If you don’t have rent, you can pay week by week. I can’t afford it anymore. He left. I told him pay what you can afford. I can give you till December. I have a new tenant come in January. Every estimate I was getting — single tree, 3 grand. I’m not the one, though. The way they’re portraying it, they’re going to paint it however they want to paint it. A 3-way split. I don’t know his family; it’s not because they’re interested. They want to do it out of spite.

2:59 p.m. Call between Carlos Phuong and Mario Fernandez Saldana from Jan. 25, 2023, is entered as State Exhibit #188 and played for the jury. Rough translation:

• Phuong: What the f*** is up? Where have you been out? What the f*** is going on with Shanna?
• Fernandez: She’s across the country. I told you we separated?
• Phuong: She asked me what happened with Shanna, she might have caused the whole thing?
• Fernandez: No man. Bro, right now I’m here in Jax. I’m remodeling the bathroom. I’ve been in Kissimmee with my brother down there, jumped at the opportunity.
• Phuong: Are you selling?
• Fernandez: I still have … gray color …you saw mine. Mine’s all white. (inaudible) …I’m going to check in.
• Phuong: I don’t think you or Shanna had anything to do with that sh**.
• Fernandez: We never said anything. The media pushes whatever they want, however. She moved across the country — it was almost a year later. I’ve had people who knew him (Jared) in high school. He grew up in Jax, I get it. They’re saying: Get the f*** out of here. Now you’re saying sh**. They belong to the church. They’re not airing the dirty laundry. No one seems to have anything concrete. My sister said why do you have such good luck with the most random things? This is the dawn of the universe. I just have to leave sh** alone. Extremely bad sh** happens, ridiculous.
• The men spend 5 to 12 minutes of talking about cars.
• Fernandez: (Talking about stretching – referring to the dog).You never know, bro – I mentioned last year, the people apologizing to me. The way our family got painted, looking at Shanna and then me, for obvious reasons. I had strangers apologize for the media. People on social media are racist toward me. All I could say is racism is real. Some bull**** happened. They look at me because I’m Hispanic. Then I have to round this bull****, you fit this profile and stereotype.

2:56 p.m. What did Shanna complain about? They were going back and forth in family court. They were going through a nasty divorce, mainly because of child custody. Did he complain about Jared? No. He would go along with what she was saying; he didn’t say anything. What is your knowledge of him before Shanna? What was his job? He was in the military. He was working at different jobs. He was working at Black Knight — a CrossFit gym. During the next couple of years, he did different things for the owner. Did he have a career? No. Subsequent to Henry Tenon’s arrest, you called Fernandez? Did you know you were being recorded? Absolutely not. Playing calls for the jury.

2:46 p.m. Prosecution Witness #14: Carlos Phuong, High School friend of Fernandez. Do you know Fernandez? Says he knows him from high school. I know his wife, Shanna, from an acquaintance. Did you speak to Shanna outside of Fernandez’s presence? No. What was the relationship Shanna had with her ex-husband? objection/sidebar.

2:44 p.m. Juan reported a Glock 27 stolen, not a 40mm. He remained employed until he moved back. I’m not sure when he separated from his agency. He reported it to the correct law enforcement agency. He reported a crime in the jurisdiction where it occurred. End of recross; witness is subject to recall.

2:40 p.m. Jimmy Jones was not a suspect? yes. A state law enforcement officer cannot give federal immunity. You mentioned that members of ATF spoke to Juan prior to your interview with John and the wire. Those same agents alerted you to the police report. The police report he filed was not with his agency; it was with Dallas. He reported his patrol car and his firearms stolen, and they were recovered a couple of blocks down from his house. He did not contact anyone. You found out because his agency opened an investigation. He was placed on administrative leave after the investigation. Juan no longer works as a sworn law enforcement officer.

2:37 p.m. Where did Juan return to after that recording? Reconvened somewhere outside. Did your investigative efforts provide anything related to Fernandez? Not that I can recall. Juan Biggerstaff reported his undercover vehicle and some firearms. Exhibit #7 is the Glock 40, and #6 is the Glock 27, which was reported stolen. The Glock 27 was reported stolen; it was listed immediately above the 10mm. They’re right on top of each other. Biggerstaff remained a law enforcement officer after 2023? Yes. End of cross.

2:31 p.m. Judge outside of the presence of the jury: You mentioned the word “hearsay” — are you trying to avoid that? I’m trying to state anything that I was told during the investigation; I understand I’m not allowed to do that. If you believe the question is impermissible, you can turn to me and say, ‘May I?’ If your honest answer is going to cause some concern, you need to avoid looking at the State.

2:28 p.m. My question was, you didn’t gather any information related to Fernandez? The witness started to answer and stopped, and I saw the State shaking their head. I’m not going as far as to say the State Attorney is seeking to put words in his mouth; he was seeking for what to say internally and externally. I observed they were shaking their heads. They’re sitting next to the jury. Judge: He has been a careful witness.

2:25 p.m. I observed the State Attorney shaking their head — it’s improper. I would ask defense counsel to address the court and not me! Mr. Hill is asking questions that will open the door to what’s on the wire. I’m gesticulating – I don’t think Mr. Hill can ask a question, and if he doesn’t like the answer, he can’t cut off the witness.
Was he instructed? All witnesses are advised as to the rules of evidence. Witness not sure how to answer.

2:21 p.m. Juan Biggerstaff, he was an experienced law enforcement officer working narcotics and he agreed to wear a wire against his father. He came to the State Attorney’s Office. You asked him to wear two recording devices to help locate the 10mm gun. You have no evidence that he tipped off his father. Ultimately, you did not get any information related to Fernandez. The judge sends the jury and the witness out.

2:16 p.m. To your knowledge, Biggerstaff has not been arrested since that time based on a firearms charge? To your knowledge, he has not been arrested for firearms possession? Yes, sir. His gun cabinet, he was allowed to have. Mario Fernandez is being prosecuted for first-degree murder. Biggerstaff has been offered immunity — had he provided Fernandez a firearm, he would not be prosecuted. He did not accept that immunity, and he has not implicated Fernandez?. I don’t know. Juan Biggerstaff was also offered immunity if he cooperated.

2:09 p.m. You mentioned that the 10mm Glock was unusual — are you aware that it has been produced as far back as 1991? Law enforcement usually carries a Glock 9mm; it’s not the rarest. Are you aware that in one gun store, there were six 10mm Glock purchases? I don’t think that’s significant when you consider it against all the guns sold. Are you aware that he became a convicted felon in 2017? You understand, when a person is arrested or indicted, he has to turn over his firearms? Yes, sir. What would be a consequence of violating pretrial release? He would be incarcerated. On this inventory, can you identify the 10 mm? No. 7 — BBGL770. Biggerstaff did violate his pretrial release based on a drug charge, not a firearm charge? Yes, sir.

1:54 p.m. Once he gave you consent you could have walked all over, and you did have consent. At this point you learned that Mr. Jones was a family friend of Tenon. correct. Jones not a mechanic. Jones said he was ok with having it there. Enough officers on the scene that you could have looked in the trash bins, bushes, underneath the house. yes sir. At that point in time we were concerned with the truck, a warrant was being drafted. I want to make sure we were focused on the truck. it’s not uncommon that someone who is hiding something from law enforcement they could be overly cooperative? sometimes./sidebar

1:50 p.m. Prosecution Witness #13 Mick Stengel is on cross:
You were all looking for this truck – people flying in helicopters. Don’t know about choppers. You and your partner actively looking? yes. This was not reported. We reviewed google information data, not information provided by Jimmy Jones. Yes sir. Truck info was provided in March of 2022. Everyone was on the lookout for this vehicle – it was the most sought after vehicle in North Florida. it was looked for. October 14, is this exactly how you found it? (could see if in the photo). MF has no connection to this property. You would be communicating with other officers. Jones cooperative? yes sir.

1:43 p.m. Defense: The record reflects the theory A) Det John was attempting to say it was disposed of in Feb/March, gun made it to Texas and reported stolen, both cannot be true. State has no position. Judge will rule if and when there is a formal motion about the issue.

1:38 p.m. Judge is back on the bench. Defense is bringing to the court’s attention, not a formal objection regarding the State’s theory about the 10mm gun. They are suggesting that the gun was never stolen — and that it did exist. The firearm cannot be reported stolen in Texas, and testimony from the detective that it had been indefinitely disposed of in Feb/March 2022 are different theories.

12:50 p.m. The judge asks lawyers to come up with a solution short of turning over her phone order. Bridegan’s lawyers don’t have a solution except to turn the device over, and they object to it. Judge orders Bridegan to turn her phone over at 9 a.m. on Friday.

12:20 p.m. The court has acknowledged the rights of Mrs. Bridegan. Discovery is wide and liberal in the State of Florida. I am in a factual gray area, not a legal gray area. Sometimes we have to navigate a factual gray area and pull from the law. Warren clearly states that it is a court error not to do an in camera inspection. Mrs. Bridegan has a legitimate privacy interest. Defense has put forth that the content is related to bias and motive — that would override privacy rights.

12:41 p.m. Judge has fashioned a solution for Mrs. Bridegan to turn over messages from her phone to the defense of Shanna Gardner, based on her ruling that the defense is entitled to certain messages that are related to motive, bias, and any messages that involve Gardner. The judge’s position is that the defense can’t keep objecting forever. The defense is not in agreement, and it’s the defense’s position that the judge should just impose an order.

12:16 p.m. Attorney: Overall, our objection is that we have not been provided the materiality of these subpoenas. If you don’t know why the court addressed it, issue by issue — this is our 7th order. The court has addressed it as it relates to the paragraphs in the initial subpoenas. Judge: Do you have an objection to the call logs? Attorney: They are going after Mrs. Bridegan’s phone to get the case log — I don’t know the reasons for the subpoenas. Bridegan’s lawyers say they are in the dark.

12:12 p.m. Judge asks: Is Mrs. Bridgean objecting to all subpoenas? Her attorney says “yes.”

12:08 p.m. Judge is back on the bench for a hearing on the Shanna Gardner case. Gardner, Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife, is also charged with first-degree murder in connection with Bridegan’s death.

12 p.m. Judge excuses the jury until 1:30 p.m. EDT.

11:59 a.m. Have you come across a 10mm firearm in your investigations? This is my first. Is it unusual? Yes.

11:58 a.m. Did you get any investigative leads from the wire? No. Did you receive information that a police report had been filed by Juan Biggerstaff? We did. No further questions.

11:50 a.m. Asked him to wear a wire to talk to his father; he was apprehensive but willing to wear a wire, advised him on how to converse with him in an attempt to locate the 10 mm Glock. What was the tone of the conversation? I don’t believe Juan – objection/speculation. Without saying what they talked about, what did you perceive the tone or tenor? It did not appear to be flowing naturally. It did not seem natural. The conversation presented that he was wearing a wire. Objection raised; judge calls sidebar.

11:46 a.m. Gun cabinet was a cheap metal cabinet, about 5ft by 1 ft wide. You could put firearms inside it – garden tools were kept inside. It was very beat-up. Was this part of your effort to locate the firearm? Yes ma’am. Did you speak with Juan Biggerstaff, as well as ATF agents, in Texas? Juan was a police officer in Irvington, Texas. Did you speak to Juan? We spoke to him in December 2022. Did you locate the 10mm firearm? No.

11:39 a.m. Did you search Mr. Jones’ home? no. I was building a rapport with Mr. Jones. You did not feel the need to search the home? I’d been there speaking to Mr. Jones for 12 minutes. He was agreeable; the truck was visible from the street. I felt like he was open and honest. Just focused on the truck. What was the ATF’s involvement with John Biggerstaff? There was an interview. Also, during the course of our investigation, he was on pretrial release. As part of his release, he had to create an inventory of his firearms. Had he purchased a 10mm Glock? Yes. June 8, 2016: Documentation shows he purchased a 10mm Glock. He can turn his firearms to anyone who isn’t prohibited from having them. Nov. 2022, Biggerstaff was interviewed. He maintained a gun cabinet on his back porch.

11:30 a.m. Prosecution Witness #13: Mick Stengel, Special Agent for the ATF. Currently a firearms instructor. In Feb 2022 through Feb 2023 … in April of 2022, he transferred to the Jacksonville office. Became involved in the investigation in August of 2022, when Tenon was arrested for driving violations. Searched the property at 5239 Potomac Ave.; recovered the F-150 pickup at 1705 University. Drove to the area, we were able to see the truck on the street. Does this depict how the truck looked? Yes. We received consent to enter the yard; we got a search warrant anyway. Jimmy Jones was cooperative. Pictures entered into evidence – #133 truck pic; #134 license plate; #135 tires; #136 front of truck. Anything of value in the bed of the vehicle? No.

11:25 a.m. Second Redirect: You did have an interaction with him on April 15, 2022. Did he mention a blue truck and that info had been released? On Feb. 15, they were together for about 25min? Correct. You identified Tenon in July. When did you receive the license plate reader reports? Jan 29 through July/August 2022 — will businesses have surveillance video for that length of time? Generally, no. Dreicer turned up at the gravel lot, which would also be closer to Fernandez’s residence. Mr. Tenon was at Marshall Inlet on Jan. 5, which was a Wed. date night? Yes. End of second redirect.

11:18 a.m. Recross: Did Fernandez give you any information about a Ford F-150 pickup truck? No. When was his interview? March 1? You didn’t release the information until March 9. If he had told you anything about the truck, he would be making an admission about the crime, correct? It would have been pretty damning if he talked to you about a blue 150 truck because you hadn’t released it yet? Correct. When the detectives went to Fernandez’s house to give the death notification, you said you don’t know what they said. It wasn’t a secret that Jared was shot to death and found outside his car, right? Correct. You were there when Kirsten Bridegan was interviewed. The location data isn’t accurate enough to put them together at the same time? HT at 2 p.m., he’s in the area of the Potomac address; at 2:10 p.m., he’s farther away — Mr. Tenon is leaving Potomac. This geolocation data is for Mr. Tenon; the cellphone timing for Fernandez can’t tell where he is because he’s moving between cell towers? Correct. At 2 p.m., they’re not at the same time. The point is, they could have been like two ships passing in the night? It’s possible, yes. End of recross.

11:08 a.m. Outside of the jury’s presence: Prosecutor: Did you learn that the firearm was disposed of in such a way that it was unrecoverable? Yes. Defense: The information the state is talking about is what you learned from Henry Tenon? Yes. It can’t be disposed of in Feb/March 2022 and stolen in Texas, so it couldn’t have been in Texas. That’s an inference. You were told that the gun was put into a scrap metal truck. Teton didn’t say it was unrecoverable, right? You don’t know what happened to the firearm — you don’t know that this could be a perfectly good 10mm gun? Judge calls sidebar

10:40 a.m. Recross: You don’t know where the firearm is? Correct. John Biggerstaff had an old, rusted-out gun cabinet. Did you find a gun in the cabinet or garden tools? License plate readers provide info about a vehicle in the area – it’s an area with lots of businesses. You could take the vehicle’s location and time and look for surveillance video that could place Fernandez in that truck. There’s no evidence that the truck patronized businesses. So you didn’t do it. The gravel lot at a children’s school — the truck was parked there for 2 hours, and not a single person reported a suspicious vehicle? It was very dark. The gravel lot is 400 or 500 yards closer to the police station. The truck moved closer to the police station. On Jan 29, Fernandez could have been there at the same time. Two devices were there, generally at the same time. Tenon comes back from the dry run; he’s at the Potomac address.

10:36 a.m. Did you have other evidence to indicate that Biggerstaff had a 10mm Glock? Yes. Did you receive info from the ATF? Yes. He had googled and searched 10mm firearms on Jan 29? Yes. On Jan 25, 2022, Fernandez was in the vicinity of Mr. Biggerstaff’s residence. You can’t explain these things through one piece of evidence; you look at everything together, and you develop evidence that makes sense. Did you receive info in 2023 that the firearm was disposed of, but not in Mr. Jones’ house? Yes. End of redirect.

10:30 a.m. (showing video) Where is the gravel truck in relation to when you see the truck pulling out of Pablo Hamlet? It’s on the side of the Discovery School (no surveillance at the school). Composition notebook collected from the Potomac address (showing the jury the book). Did Tenon have a business plan in 2022? Had he bought equipment or filed any paperwork? No, he did not.

10:27 a.m. Redirect cont.: Do you believe that the media know about the tire? Yes, but don’t know when they learned about it. Do you believe Jared got out of the car before he was killed? Was that information ever made public? No. Why do you believe the truck turned into the gravel lot? Seemed to turn too soon.

10:18 a.m. Redirect cont.: Are you an expert in cell site analysis? No, I’m not. On Jan. 29, based on your investigation, is there a time when Tenon and Fernandez devices overlap in the same area? (Sidebar called) In general, does this slide show that, at some point, Tenon and Fernandez overlap? Yes. In another slide from Jan 29, 2022, does it appear that Tenon’s geolocation data and Fernandez’s phone data overlap? On Feb. 15, do Mr. Tenon’s device and Fernandez’s device appear in the same area? Yes. On Feb. 16, the license plate reader picks up Henry Tenon’s truck 3 times. Did Mr. Fernandez ever tell you that his tenant owned a blue-toned Ford F-150? No.

10:15 a.m. Redirect: The boots and jacket – in assessing the physical appearance of the clothes, you considered the size of the jacket? Yes. The welding jacket — it would have been too small to fit Tenon. Did the officers record the death notification when they went to the Gardner/Fernandez home? Filings regarding Mr. Bridegan — those are Gardner’s words. Correct. The documents are written by lawyers? Correct. The docket doesn’t necessarily reflect the tone of what’s going on in court? Correct.

10:11 a.m. You put a pole camera at Marsh Inlet, and you found nothing? No.

10:08 a.m. When you arrested him, he had a new phone. He was cooperative? Yes. He had moved to Orlando? Yes. He was arrested in March. The Marsh Inlet (Fernandez’s former residence) had been sold. At some point, you put a tracking device on him? Yes. He was living with his brother in Orlando. He didn’t have a disguise, lots of cash? No.

10:03 a.m. On Oct. 13, 2022, the truck was found at the home of Jimmy Jones. That home was never searched. You never looked for a 10mm in that home? No. Defense enters Exhibit 56A, a photo of Jones’ home — asks, that was where the blue truck was found? Yes, sir. The truck was found. Our records show that the truck showed up at the house several months after the homicide. What you don’t know is if Tenon asked him to stash his 10 mm Glock. It could have been in his closet after he dropped the truck off, right? There is no evidence that is true. It’s possible, if you had gone in, you may have found the 10 mm. On Feb. 8, you pulled over Fernandez. He was cooperative, gave you the cellphone? Yes. There’s no evidence he was attempting to flee? No. That was not the same cellphone he owned on Feb. 16, correct? Yes.

10:02 a.m. In October 2022, a controlled call was conducted. A controlled call is when we have someone call and the other party does not know they are being recorded. You found no evidentiary value in that phone call? No.

10 a.m. (Picture of jacket is shown) This was found in Henry Tenon’s belongings — Exhibit 11 is the green camo jacket. The tan jacket, Exhibit 12, is the one that was in the garage? Yes. Mr. Ordway said it was his father’s jacket. The sweatshirt that was framed was not among Henry Tenon’s items. It was found in the closet. Can you associate anything else in that picture with Henry Tenon? No.

9:57 a.m. I’m referring to a sweatshirt-type jacket in State’s Exhibit 128.

9:52 a.m. Jury back. Defence continues: This particular sweatshirt was found at the Potomac address? Yes. You are confident that — looking at that surveillance — that this is the jacket? The video seems to match the jacket. You have no other evidence that that is the jacket. These boots were found at Potomac? Yes. You can tell that it was those boots that were framed, not the boots in the picture. Could it be these boots (pictured)? These boots are more consistent with the framed boots than the boots in the picture. There is a pair of black boots next to the boots that are framed? Correct. When Tenon’s vehicle was recovered, these boots were in the truck? Yes, these boots have a long tongue just like the boots in the courtroom. Looking at that video, you can tell those are the boots and that’s the jacket? Those boots are consistent. I can’t say for certain they are the exact boots.

9:48 a.m. Jury has been sent out. Defense attorney Jesse Dreicer is quizzing the witness about another jacket — “a welder’s jacket” — that was framed as evidence. The witness says he’s never seen that jacket.

9:44 a.m. Those boots were found at the Potomac address? Yes. You can’t associate those boots with anything at the crime scene? They appear to match the boots in the video (videos that the jury has seen of Henry Teton walking through Jax Beach). Yes. You didn’t find a footprint that matched? Correct. No blood on the boots? Correct. No biological evidence on the jacket? Correct.

9:41 a.m. You learned that Mrs. Bridegan received life insurance. You spoke to her many times, and at no time did you record your conversations with her? We spoke on the phone. You could have asked her to come to the police station and turned the camera on when Mrs. Bridegan came in. You could have asked her questions in a recorded room, and you didn’t in this case? Correct.

9:34 a.m. At some point, Tenon 1 and 2 are in Jax Beach. Then they separate, and around 11:00 p.m Tenon 1 and 2 are back at the Potomac address. That’s correct. You know that Fernandez is at home? Correct. You told the jury “everyone is a suspect until they’re not,” correct? I was giving her bad news. You didn’t record your interview with Mrs. Bridegan? Correct. When you spoke to the brothers, you recorded. Correct. You inquired about life insurance? Yes, we did. objection/sidebar.

9:25 a.m. Tenon 1 – those two phones separate. After the homicide, Tenon 2 called Tenon 1? Correct. In this particular case, they were separated by geolocation. Tenon 2, at around 9:15 p.m., was over by the police station. The phone is turned on at the exact time that Tenon 1 was pinging in the area of MOJO’s. Pablo Hamlet has surveillance all the time. You know that the truck pulls into Pablo Hamlet at about 8 p.m. At that point, you have no idea where the truck went, correct? We have some idea. Where? It appears to me that it makes a right into a gravel lot. Can you see the gravel lot in this video? No. (playing video — video shows the truck make a right) And you can’t see the gravel rock in the video, and you do not see it stop? Correct.

9:22 a.m. Fernandez was at his home around midnight? You have no evidence that he was outside of the home after 5:45 p.m., is that night? There’s no physical evidence that he was outside his home. Tenon gets to Jax Beach at 6:25 p.m. Tenon had 4 phones. One was a number he gave his daughter, and that has no evidentiary value? Correct. Another phone he gave his girlfriend, “Peanut.” There is some evidence that he called Peanut on the night of the homicide. Tenon, on the night of the homicide, he brought with him 2 phones. He came into Jax Beach with 2 phones. Each phone has a unique identification — one phone with one unique ID stayed with Tenon, referred to as Tenon 2.

9:17 a.m. Ford F-150 was caught on Jax Beach cameras driving past the police station; we know it’s around 7 p.m.? Correct. This is Jax Beach on a Wednesday night. People are seen walking? Yes. (playing video showing 7 people walking 10 to 15 by the F-150 (the suspect vehicle in homicide). There’s no physical evidence that puts Fernandez at that scene? No.

9:16 a.m. The community was aware that law enforcement was looking for a blue-toned F-150. Not a single witness will say they saw Fernandez in the F-150, or say that the truck was parked near his residence that night? No.

9:13 a.m. On Feb. 16, the day of the homicide. Fernandez went to Biggerstaff’s house — you found a video of Fernandez performing a sexual act. There is no evidence that Fernandez gave Biggerstaff a firearm. You don’t hear anything about a discussion of a firearm.
On the night of the homicide, Henry Tenon got into Jax Beach about 6:10 p.m.? Correct. This is the night surveillance from businesses, Ring doorbell footage, and other people’s personal security videos start to piece the crime together. At any point, do you have any surveillance putting Fernandez near the truck, any evidence that he was in the truck? There were thousands of Crime Stopper tips? I don’t know the specific number – there were a lot.

9:11 a.m. Defense: Fernandez went to the Potomac address on that day (day before the murder) and Tenon was not there? Correct. Slide 35 shows he returned to the Potomac address for the second time on Feb. 15. You have no evidence that Fernandez gave anyone a firearm or received a firearm? Correct. You don’t know what he did at the address? No

9:09 a.m. Detective Chris Johns returns to the stand for continued cross-examination by the defense.

9:06 a.m. Court is in session. Jury summoned.

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