Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Ex-Wife's Bestie Spills Secrets in Microsoft Exec Murder Case

Episode Date: March 10, 2026

Shanna Gardner and her estranged husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana, are scheduled to go on trial in August 2026 for the conspiracy to murder Shanna's ex-husband, Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan. In the months after Jared's murder, detectives interviewed Shanna's best friend, Kim Jensen, who prosecutors would later say spoke in code with Shanna about killing Jared for years. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy goes through Jensen's interviews with detectives in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW:Download the FREE Upside App at  https://upside.app.link/crimefix to get an extra 25 cents bonus for every gallon on your first tank of gas.Host:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5CRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I could tell by her voice something was wrong. And she said, Jared's dead. And I said, I'm sorry, what? That's Kim Jensen, the best friend of Shanna Gardner, answering questions after the murder of Shanna's ex-husband, Microsoft executive Jared Brightigan.

And Jensen, she doesn't hold back. Jared was just an... He was always an... And there was more than one interview. But that means social media. has like gone viral with all of this. I go through Kim Johnson's interviews and why they matter in this murder case. I'm Ann Janette Levy and this is Crime Fix.

You know, I have to tell you about this app I've been using. It's called Upside and I love it because you can get cash back on things you buy every day, things like gas, groceries and takeout. Here's what you do. You download Upside. You claim an offer at one of their 100,000 plus locations and pay like normal with your card. Then you verify the purchase and boom. You get your money back. So say I need gas or I want takeout one night. I'll search for

upside offers first. After I spend, money appears in my app that I can transfer straight to my bank account. Upsides frequent users earn an average of $254 back a year. That's a lot of money. So to start getting your cash back, click the link in the description or scan the QR code you see on your screen and use our promo code Crime Fix to get an extra 25 cents back on every gallon on your first tank of gas. For the first time, we are hearing from one of Shanna Gardner's best friends in the months after Gardner's ex-husband, Jared Bridigan was shot to death. Kim Jensen is Gardner's bestie. And let me tell you, she doesn't sugarcoat anything when talking to the detectives investigating Jared Bridigan's murder. I'm going to show you some key moments from Jensen's police interviews, the first in May 2022.

And the second one happened in February 2023. I'll show those to you in just a little bit. But first, I want to just give you a quick recap of the case. Shanna Gardner and her estranged husband, Mario Fernandez, Saldana were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse in the February 22 shooting death of Jared Bridigan. Shanna and Jared Bridigan were once married and they had twins, a boy and a girl. The marriage and the divorce were contentious. custody of the children was a major issue. Both Gardner and Fernandez have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors say Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana hired Henry Tennant, a tenant of Fernandez's, to shoot and kill Jared Brightigan. Jared was shot and killed after dropping off his twins. He was driving home with his toddler daughter,

strapped in a car seat. Police said he got out of his car in Jacksonville Veitch to remove a tire from the middle of the road, and that is when he was shot. Tenon had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, admitting that he was the person who shot Bright again. He agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against both Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana. Prosecutors produced checks that they said Fernand's had written to Tenon after the murders as evidence of a payoff for the hit. But then, in January 2025, an about face from Henry Tenon came when he said his testimony was

false and he asked for a new lawyer. The judge granted his motion to withdraw his guilty plea in February 2026, so now, Henry Tenon, he's going on trial. The state attorney says Shanna Gardner had a deep hatred for her ex and planned to kill him for years. Recently, prosecutors released text messages that they planned to use at trial in which they claim Gardner's friends talked in code about her desire to see Jared dead. Some of those texts were more direct than that. This text exchange between Shanna and Kim Jensen is from May 2015. Shanna wrote, I'm just not having a good day. Kim Jensen responded, don't write the day off as bad yet.

I'm still trying to send stupid to prison. She added, if I can't make a casserole, prison is the next best option. There are more text messages, some from 2016 where prosecutors say the women's spoken code. On July 17, 2016, Kimmy wrote, Shanna needs a guy. A woman named Susan Lee responded, What kind of guy? Kimmy responded, the kind that performs permanent disappearing acts on certain people. Kimmy added, know any magicians?

Susan Lee responded, ah, magician. No, that I do not. For stupid, she asked. Kimmy responded, I was thinking Thomas, L-O-L. Susan Lee responded, he isn't a magician, but I'll ask if he knows any. Susan added, I'm sure her ex knows a few. we've heard about these text messages and read about them, but now we're actually seeing them. And these texts, remember, are from 2016.

Prosecutors believe these show that Shana Gardner had murder on her mind for many years. On the same day, another set of text messages between Shanna and Kimmy were released. Shanna wrote, I'm at church. I'm fabulous with a straight face emoji, my favorite place on earth. Kimmy responded, deep breaths. It's going to be okay. I'll talk to you as soon as she. you get out. Just breathe. You'll work out all of that frustration at the gym later, and then part of

the text is blacked out as a redaction, citing an active criminal investigation. Kimmy then typed, he hates him. Kimmy added, if not, I know Sue's husband knows people, L-O-L. Shanna responded, just when I think doing this whole one week off slash on thing is a good idea, it gives me such great pleasure, imagining slitting his throat. Prosecutors are planning to show the text to the jury to show that Shanna really wanted Jared out of the way for a very, very long time. A little less than three months after Jared Brightigan was shot to death, detectives brought in Kim Jensen for a little chat. Hello.

Hey doing. Good morning. I'm Detective John's. Dects with a mom and my partner, okay? Let me sit right there. You give you the comfy couch. Oh, thanks. How's your day going?

So I'm sure, you know, this is about Jared. and what happened to him. Someone had said that you knew Jared even before Shannon. Is that correct or now? Oh, I've known Jared and his family since he was like 12 or 13 years old. Whenever they moved to Jacksonville from wherever they moved. We were never close, but I've known him since he was a kid. I knew the girls that he dated when he was a teenager.

I knew, you know what I mean? Like, I've known that family for probably 20 years. Okay. Do you go to the same church or something? You're in the same war. Yeah. Yeah. So tell me a little bit about Jared and his family from what you can remember. Anything staying out?

We were never friends. I knew his mother. I was friendly. I'm one of those people that I'm just, what you see is what you get. I'm real. If I don't like you, I won't be friends with you. But I will be kind. You know what I mean?

Like I'll say good morning and keep on walking down the hall of the church, whatever. Of course. So I knew his family from a distance. I did attend a baby shower or two that maybe his mom hosted at their home. So Kim Jensen, who Shanna Gardner calls Kimmy, didn't know Jared well, she says, but she's very, very friendly with Shanna. Jared was, he was kind of quiet as a kid. He never had a lot of friends. The girls he dated in the church, two things that I remember always.

never dated a girl that wasn't loaded with money and never didn't end the relationship that everyone talked about what a jerk he was he was the guy that broke the girl's hearts he was you know he he puts on you know what I mean he would he would be nice at first and then the real Jared would come out when then I met Shanna I knew about Shanna when he married her because his mom was so excited because she was you know, from this rich family and, you know, their life was going to be so great and blah, blah, blah. And then she had twins and ended up having pulmonary hypertension. And they had to move to Florida.

So I met Shanna about maybe eight and a half years ago. Okay. And I have twins. So, and she actually was one of my teenage daughter's teachers in the youth program. Okay. And so she and I got to be friends while she was still. married to Jared because, number one, I knew his family, number two, I felt sorry for her that she married him.

Number three, she taught my kid, and we kind of had that common bond with the twin thing. So that's how she and I became friends. And then as time went on, probably within a year of them moving here, like she and I became better and better friends. And now, you know, I probably talked to Shana five, six times a week, maybe every day. Okay, so you say you guys are really good friends. We're really good friends. I was the only person, I was one of the few people who stood beside her when they got divorced.

When the divorce happened, like I knew that she was going to tell him kind of a thing. I knew he was going to flip out just because of the personality that I had always remembered or whatever. He went around and he accused her of having an affair to everyone. and the way it worked was at the very beginning, the kids would be with her for two days, and then they kept them at the home, and then for three days she'd have them, and then it kind of went back and forth on a two, three kind of thing.

And the days that she did not have the children, she oftentimes spent the night at my house, and he was running and telling her, oh, she's off, she didn't come home last night, She's sleeping with it and she was on my couch. She didn't sleep with anybody. So it was not hard for me to stand by her because I knew where she was because she was with me most of the time. We kind of like adopted her and the kids and, you know, so that's how she and I became better friends than we were and why we are good friends today.

And so, you know, you're friends with Shanna. You kind of see what's going on with Jared and her. You know, what, in your opinion, like what was kind of the cause of their divorce? the caught well so he was very so like I used to go over the house and like he was very antisocial like he didn't if you

if I went over you know so I could walk we both lived in Pontevedre I could it was a long walk but I could walk from my house to hers in about half an hour so sometimes you know I'm going to go for a walk in the evening I go over there hang out you know maybe I'd walk back maybe she'd drive me home whatever

um I'd walk in and he would instantly go to his bedroom Okay. Anytime I was there during the day, he had zero engagement or involvement. He pretty much stayed in his bedroom. He was on his laptop. He never worked the entire time they were married.

I always thought he was lazy. He's very much like his father. I know that when they were going through the divorce, his mother tried to be my friend, which I found funny because you're just... fishing, you just want me to give you something that will help him, kind of a thing. You know what mean? Like, it was so obvious. Like, we've never been friends in, you know, 16 years and now all of a sudden you want to be my friend. That's just kind of weird. You know, it was like, oh, how's Shanna? You know, like, you don't care. Do you know what I mean? Like, and so I was very surful stuff.

Oh, she's fine. You know, she's doing fine. What did you see that kind of happen since you were so close to it after their divorce? How was Shanna? I know what was for demeanor and. So, Shanna, after the divorce, Shanna was, Shanna struggled hard emotionally. She struggled hard, emotion. She had three jobs. He continued to not work. I think their divorce was final, like in July, maybe. It was seven years ago, but I think it was July was the month that it was final.

And she had three jobs. He had a job. Actually, I take that back. He got a job once she filed for divorce. Gotcha. And then as soon as the divorce proceedings were going and child support came up, he emailed his boss because the lawyer was able to get HR records, emailed his boss and said he was no longer able to work because of his personal situation.

However, he did continue to work and they paid him under the table because he was bitter that her family had money and he didn't think he should have pay child support when her family was rich. But they were his kids, not her family's kids. So, you know what I mean? Like that whole, you know what I mean? You're a dad. That's your job. You know what I mean?

You pay for kids. She worked three jobs. She was exhausted. She put the kids in like a daycare. Jensen described a tense and dysfunctional relationship between Gardner and Brightigan. In November, she was so grateful because he emailed or texted her. He refused to speak to her ever. There was zero verbal communication between the two of them, probably in the whole time that they were divorced.

He left. He was leaving the state. He was going to Utah. Said he'd taken a job or something. But really he was on the prowl for another girl. And so he was going to, the deal was if she would sign a change in parenting agreement and she would agree to let him see the kids every other weekend, he was going to fly back and see them. But then it was he's going to face down the kids every single day.

And, you know, he would tell him, oh, you know, dad's coming into town. I'm going to bring you so many presents. And then, you know, he didn't come. Right. He would, oh, I'm busy at work. You know what I mean? So it was like he would build the kids up and try to get them so excited to see him.

And then I think he ended up coming maybe like five or six times. Okay. So during that time when he was gone, life was much better other than the face times were just disruptive to the, I mean, they were three. Yeah. You know what I mean? So. Kind of young to be FaceTime. Every day was just, faceTime's great.

I think you need to see your kids, but every day was just much. you know and and so anyway so her attorney her attorney filed something we found out where he's working and I think his mom blurted it out in church one day and I was like I found out where it works and so her attorney emailed and found out that he was out there and he was working and he was speaking like 90 grand a year and here she is working three jobs He's paying for nothing. You know, she told him the kids were in preschool, you know, and he was like, oh, you know, I'm barely making anything.

I just, you know, if I'm going to be able to afford to fly there, I'm not going to be able to afford to pay whatever, you know what I mean? So, like, he sent zero dollars, and he's out there living large, and come then come to find out, so she starts prying around. Her attorney starts prying around. They're going to file something for child support and quit like that. Quit his job. quit his job and was going to move back to Florida and came back with a new girl in tow.

And then life became hell again. Kim Jensen goes on to explain how life became more difficult when Jared moved back to Florida. But because they had filed this thing with the court that only gave him the right to see the kids every other weekend. He thought he was going to come back and instantly it would. go back to mine for two days, yours for three, you know what I mean, and then you got that kind of thing. And so it turned into this big kerfuffle of she was withholding the children. He was going to have her arrested for kidnapping. He wanted to see them when he wanted to see them. And she was like, sorry. You know what I mean? You know, I mean? She was following what was currently filed with the court,

you know, and I realize that has gotten spun in a different way, all through the news. But I mean, that's what happened. That's the truth. No, I understand. He thought he was going to come back and it was just going to go back to me. Yeah, I'm back in town, you know what I mean? And I'm still not paying for anything. And, you know what I mean? And I'm going to, you know, not that paying for anything had anything to do with seeing your kids. But the current thing filed with the court said, you get them every other weekend. You know, you get them from like Saturday morning to Sunday night. That's what the thing said.

Or maybe it was Friday. I think it was Saturday morning because he would get in late on Friday when he did come. so um you know but i mean there was never a custody battle i mean that was determined at the divorce it was 50-50 you know the only thing that ever changed with custody was they went they realized that it as the kids got older i think by the time they were four the two day three day it got the kids never knew even at school am i going home with mom am i going home with dad like it got too hard on them doing too many switch too soon and so they they they themselves decided to try week on week off right with a date night on Wednesday in the middle and they they put that in practice for a

few months to just try it out and the kids were happier they were happier that midweek breakup gave you know the other parent to see them you know what I mean and then until but see but that was just between them. And so he would try to hold her hostage over that. It was like, okay, well, I have something coming up. And if you don't agree to make this timeshare switch or this week switch, the kids won't be available on date night.

And so he always tried to use the kids to get what he wanted from her. It's like a leveraging kind of. Yeah, like he used them like pawns. Yeah, yeah. And so I said, take him back to court and make it permanent. It's working. We got to work with it. If the judge signs it, then he can't hold date night hostage.

Throughout these interviews, Kim Jensen, she doesn't hold back at all. She's honest about how she feels about Jared and Shanna. She calls it how she sees it. What do you think that is? What do you think he was trying to control her and had all these rules about the FaceTime and all that? Because he's a narcissist. His mother, she'll tell you he's just like his father. He's very controlling.

He's a narcissist. They went to therapy. They went to a church therapist, which always makes me like. laugh because you go to a church therapist you give a Sunday school answer and they'll say check you pets you know what I mean like go to real therapist it's going to make you do work you know what I'm never a fan of church therapists whatever that actually means but they went to one and and she saw it straight way you know he's definitely a narcissist he always had to be in control he had to be in control of the story I'm the victim she cheated on me no one else would leave me for any

other reason because I'm so, you know, and I mean, I get it as his family. They ran with that. It's easier to say, oh, you know, my son's a wife cheated on him. You know what I mean? Then, you know, my son's a wife left. You know what sounds better? You know what I mean? Like, I get it. I get it. Then the detectives want to know Kim Jensen's thoughts on Shanna's estranged husband, Mario Fernandez-Sildana. Well, I think she met him at the gym. I think he was CrossFit, maybe. met him there and my thought was you don't need to be with anybody you need to go fix what he broke you don't need to date anybody let's figure out you let's learn how to just be happy with you and not be dependent on anyone else just you know what I mean that was always my advice I didn't want

her dating anyone I certainly didn't want her marrying anyone I said you know I mean I didn't know him per se. I mean, I met him. Yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? He certainly is... He doesn't... Jared might be an ass, but if you just saw him, you might even think he was a nice guy. Gotcha.

You see Mario, and he doesn't... It's not same same. Yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? But then, you know, don't judge a book by its cover. You know what I mean? Like, I've seen how much Mario has, like, he adored those kids. He filled voids that Jared was creating.

You know what I mean? Like, those kids wanted you to sit on the floor and build Legos, and, you know what I mean? They wanted that kind of dad. And Jared wasn't that guy. They wanted cuddles. Jared was always, I'm so hot. He was so hot.

He was had to sleep with a box fan. It was the weirdest thing. You know what I mean? And, like, Mario, you know, he's small. Like, that was my biggest thing with Shannon. I was like, you never marry a dude that's shorter than you. you don't do that.

She's like, my sister said the same thing. You know what I mean? It was like, you know what I mean? So I mean, my, you know, should you, should you not was not because I thought he was bad. It was, it's just not, it broke all my rules. But I wouldn't marry him, so it didn't really matter what I thought. You know what I mean? Right.

Did you find it odd that they got married so quick? I did. But I understood why they got married. so quick, because even though I tried so hard to talk to her and give her strength about how he can't control you unless

you let him, she always was in fear that, you know, if I live with him, if I, then, you know, he'll try to take me to court and, you know what I mean, and say you know, she's being a bad example for the kids and, you know what I mean? Like, she never wanted to give up more

custody than she had and that she had. she was entitled to. Gotcha. And there was always that fear. Jensen said the twins absolutely loved Mario and that that seemed to endear him to Shanna. Jensen then told the detectives that Jared Brightigan did things to try to turn the twins against Shanna. Part of it was Jared wanted them to hate Shanna as much as he did.

To me, I don't care who you are. And I've got siblings who are divorced and have kids and whatever. my number one rule is I'm gonna love you the best I can at my house and dad's gonna love you the best way he can at his house and how I feel about your dad should never be related to you if you're the kid that's my job is to protect you

I'm just supposed to love you and Shanna always did that it could have been the day from hell with emails back and forth and this that and the other and they would say something about him and her response was always very simple it was I'm sorry you made that that that you feel that way or you know I'm sorry the dad made you sad or she never said you know it was never I understand you know what I mean like she never engaged

in that ever whereas the kids themselves because I spent a long time of the kids I love the kids and they would you know would say I get in trouble if I say anything about my mom at my dad's house my dad hates my mom that makes me very The discussion then turned to Mario Fernandez's relationship with other women who were not Shanna when they were married. I'm trying to think how to word this. Did Mario's fondness for women bother Shana at all you think? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

I mean, because, I mean, and he had some people living there and some other things. Yeah, but it wasn't like they were women. that he was with. He, like, just had, he just has friends. Like, he has all these friends, um, from, like, his army days or, you know what I mean? Like, I don't know. And she was just like, oh, you know, this one, this one's, you know, this one is a hairdresser. And, and, you know, and I told her she could stay here.

And Shannon was like, okay. And then it was, well, you know, she's going to pay part of the rent or part of the mortgage or whatever. You know what I mean? and then, you know, two weeks later, her boyfriend is living there too. And then I told you, I'm like, this is your house. You know what I mean? I'm like, you know, and so that didn't last very long at all.

It was just more annoying. He kind of, he's married, but he still kind of lives like a single guy. You know what I mean? Like, he never understood what marriage meant. Like to me, you know, if I'm going to move someone in the house, and I do that without my husband, we're going to have an issue. Now, it's 50 minutes into this chat before detectives even bring up Jared's murder, but they do get there.

So what did you think when you first heard about Jared, you know, getting killed? Well, Shannon called me on Thursday morning after it happened. And I could tell by her voice something was wrong. and she said Jared's dead and I said I'm sorry what did you just say and she said

did you hear about that shooting last night in Jack's Beach and I said no and she said it was him it was him and I said what? You know like I just I couldn't process it you know what I mean like I couldn't it was it was I was I was shocked you know what I mean like and she just and and then she told me that what had happened

and that Kirsten was coming over and they were going to tell the kids together and um I didn't have the time to put in to the conversation because I was it was like seven o'clock in the morning and I was leaving for the airport to go bury my mother-in-law. And so, like, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. She, you know, so I just, and I was like, and then I was torn between, you know what me? I was like, I had to go do that, but I knew she probably needed, you know what I mean?

So, you know, and then as people started finding out, they were texting me and I just, I happen to have Wi-Fi on the plane, whatever flight we were on, I don't remember, American or Delta, one of them, but, and so it was like, oh my gosh, have you hurt? You know what I mean? I was like, yeah. And, you know what I mean? And they're just like, oh, my gosh, that's the craziest thing. And you know what I mean?

And so, I mean, it was just more of a shock than anything. You know what I mean? Like, I can remember saying, I'm sorry what? I must have said it three times. Like, are you kidding? You know what I mean? Like I just thought it was like, like I was in like bizarro world or something. It was like I just couldn't, you know, I mean, and then, you know, the course the day,

just started unfolding and you know what I mean and then you know so then I started following the story from the plane and you know what I mean that kind of a thing and it was just it was just so it was just so hard to wrap my head around right that it that it happened to him now keep in mind prosecutors have said that Kim jensen had spoken in code about Shana needing a guy back in 2016 a magician to make someone disappear so just knowing knowing Jared knowing Shanna knowing the whole family You know, you probably have a better insight into their marriage and everything, just into Jared, really. You know, you saw his personality, whatever. I'm not trying to, I don't believe you, but in your brain and your conscience, your soul, what do you think happened to him?

Well, it was always about money with him, always. And he was in his, he was a Freemason, he and his dad. and to me that's just some shady crap I'm sorry you know what I mean like that's some shady crap and I figured it was a money thing you know what I mean

my first gut was who'd you piss off you know what I mean who did you money you know what I mean some deal went bad was what my first thought was whether or not it was the free mason thing I don't know you know but I do know he was into that and when I say into it because like I know a lot of people who

are members of that I've done a lot of research on that I think it's weird I think it's one of those secret society things you're not allowed to tell your wife anything you know what I mean like anything where you are asked to keep secrets from the one person that you're supposed to be able to

tell everything to is sketchy to me you know but because I know of his love for money and that that's what drove him my head automatically went. As the story unfolded, I figured there was two scenarios. Either it was a business deal gone bad, or maybe some like random gang initiation or, you know what I mean?

Like some weird thing like that. And Kim Jensen, Shanna Gardner's best friend said that Shanna was always the villain in the Bridegan family's eyes. Anyone who knows the real Shanna, not the story that you've been spun off by the Bridegans, that, you know, she's a whore and she'll sleep with anybody. You know what I mean? Like, if you know Shanna, her kids, that's all she ever wanted was kids. In fact, if you ask her, if she regrets burying Jared, she'll tell you no, because she wouldn't have her kids.

You know, I mean, and for all the things he did to her, you know what I mean, that's not your typical answer for someone who's spinning out about, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. How can I get rid of him? Do you know what I mean? Like, it was always. Every decision she made through her marriage and her divorce was always, how will this affect my kids? That was always her first question.

So, I mean, you said, you seen all the comments. You see what the people are saying. Totally impossible or? That Shanna had anything to do with this? Shana or Maria. I don't see it. I spent a lot of time. You know what I mean?

I've been with Shanna's neck on Shana's side for eight and a half years. There's nothing that happened in the marriage or the divorce. that I have not been privy to. And, you know, Mario... Because there was no love loss between Mario and Jared. He said on that couch and said that. Oh, no, he did. He hated him.

He hated what he did to him or to her. He hated how he treated the kids. You know what I mean? Because the story you're seeing in the news is not with the story that the kids were reporting. Of course. However, I also, and I always tell Shannon this, when you take your notes from little children,

who are trying to please you at your house and him at his house. You know, there's no telling what they were saying over there either. Of course. You know what I mean? Again, with the survival skills. I have a good. You've got a set of survival skills per house, depending on where you are is what you say and what you don't say.

And you know that you learn that at a very young age. You learn that. Mario likes his, I mean, for all intense purposes, I mean, he's got a cushy life. You know what I mean? Mario is selfish. I don't think he would sacrifice that for something like this. Yeah.

Do I think he cried tears when he found out? No. I didn't ask, but... I didn't. He said no. The detectives suspect that Shanna and Kim Jensen, they could be coordinating their stories. Did she, so did she tell you before she was coming in here and talk to us? No.

call you so she didn't call you and talked to you before she came in and talked to us? I don't think so but I don't I don't remember I don't remember here I'm telling I'm the memory bank and I don't remember but I really I mean you know what I don't remember what day it was or anything it was a it was a 28th was day before and March 1st was the day she came and talked to us I may she may have told me that she was coming she may have told me that she was coming in fact I think she did tell me that she was coming and that they were coming in together. But she didn't know if they were going to,

if you guys were going to talk to them together or separate them. So nothing memorable. Several months would pass nearly nine to be exact, and Kim Jensen would return to the interview room. The detective walks in and the conversation begins. But I mean, social media has like gone viral with all of this, you know, and I mean, I don't know. It's definitely got a lot of attention.

It's gotten a lot of attention. And it's hard because it's one-sided detention. Keep in mind, this interview happened right after the arrest of Henry Tenon. Just in a curiosity, have you ever known Jared to have any kind of association with Henry Tenon who was arrested? I never saw him until. That was the first time you ever saw him? Never saw him. Never did know nothing about him.

he didn't even look like he knew him. Like he looked very confused to me. Yeah. Like the next day or whatever. He just looked like he, he didn't even look like he was on the same planet. Like he just looked very confused to me. Yeah.

Um, did, I mean, did Shanna or Mario ever talk about him? I know he was a tenant for Marius for quite a while. No. Not be, Mario didn't talk about much.

You know what I mean? Like he, He didn't even, he was very, even through their whole marriage, like his friends were his friends and he didn't join the two. Kim Jensen said Shanna really hadn't talked about Henry Tenon. She said their conversations had been pretty limited since Shanna moved to Washington State with the twins. Another detective walks into the room and they discussed Kim's theories about how Jared might be connected to Henry Tenon. I was just talking to her about some theories as to why Mario's 10 would be involved with Jared. Okay.

And what was it that you said? I said, all I know about this guy is that what I saw in the press conference, so not only have any theories. The only thing I can tell you is that people made the comment. People, one of, once, once, Shanna's sister said once, Jared was always involved in something shady because he always wanted that get rich quick. He always wanted, it was money. Everything with Jared is, from what I know, everything was always about money. It was really the end of the day, I was trying, you know, connect all the dots.

And, you know, there's really no reason for tenon to have any kind of dealings with Jared. And so that's what's kind of throwing everybody off a little bit, I think. Well, my assumption was that you guys probably had a list of everyone that, had the truck that may or may not be involved. I never ever heard if it was a confirmed or all I've seen is Kirsten stuff, find the truck, find the truck, find the truck. I just assumed when he got popped for whatever he got popped for, what was it speeding in pot or something when he got arrested in August or whatever that he was on the list and then he's Mario's tenant and I figured those were how dots were connected.

I really don't have any theories about Jared and this black guy. Like, I have no idea. This next exchange could be viewed as pretty interesting if you look back at the text and believe that they mean what prosecutors claim. Has anybody been talking about it or anything? Has there been any kind of rumor mill or anything like that involving it? The only rumor mill that I've heard is this guy doesn't even look like he knows what the heck's going on. who all saying that

just like you're saying it doesn't really matter but oh just like girls at chirps they're like you know just so they don't

they're skeptical that he has anything they're skeptical that he has anything to do with it well I mean maybe he does I don't know

I'm sure you know more than I do but I'm just saying from the outside looking in he looks very confused about the whole thing well I guess if they're skeptical

what's why and what alternative theory would they have? Just, if we're just going to... Well, I mean... Rabbit holes, you know? Like... In that, I mean, well, the guy's never done anything violent from what... You know what I mean?

I mean, his rap sheet, I guess, whatever's been published. I mean, it doesn't look like he's ever done anything violent. Mm-hmm. From my logical mind, if you're going to pick someone to help you do something, that wouldn't be my first choice, I'm just saying. You know what I mean? Yeah. You know, he doesn't have this air of confidence like, oh, you know, I'll be your partner in crime, whoever his crime was with.

That's an interesting choice of words if you're going to pick somebody. Do you think that somebody picked somebody or do you think this is? Oh, no, I'm just like, you know, you know, just if I'm analyzing the something, you know what I mean? Like if this actually was, you know, a hit on him, I just think. You'd pick somebody better than. There would just be a little more thought would have gone into it. Not that I think like that because I've never put it out on anybody. You sure?

I'm sure. I'm sure. I'm the girl that made curfew. Every time. Well, as Shannon mentioned, Henry in his connection at all? No? No. Is she just as confused about the whole thing or?

Yeah. Well, like I said, you know, on the Monday before, they're, you know, and there are, you know, And they were like, oh, you don't want to comment on breaking the case? And she's like, what are you, she didn't even know what they were talking about. She had no freaking idea what they were talking about. So when she found out was she as equally as confused? Yeah, she's like, she has no idea what's happening. Okay.

Prosecutors have also said that Shanna and Jared disagreed about raising their children in the Mormon church. That came up in the discussion with Kim Jensen. Jera was expecting an argument about the baptism and everything like that and you wouldn't wait for more, uh, get back to us later. What's the typical age for a baptism? Typical age is eight. Both parents have to agree. He never even asked.

Like at eight, the topic, because we were waiting. Never came up. Never came up. And then, but see, but in typical Jared fashion, everything with him is manipulation. And so her little Sunday school teacher, it's called primary. Her little primary teacher was like, this is what,

and this is what I'm going to be telling Shanna telling me. Do you know you're the only one in class that's not baptized? She was 10. Oh, really? And so Shanna assumed that, and this is, like that, it's just our assumption, put pressure on the kid from the teacher, not the dad, and then we can ignite this thing and then see if, you know, we can get mom to agree or whatever.

So. But, yeah, for two years, he said nothing. Later, the conversation turns to Mario. Do you think that it's possible that Mario had to do this? Is it even a possibility? I don't see what the benefit would be. And Mario's a very selfish person. Mario doesn't do much that doesn't benefit him.

I gotcha. I just don't see where the benefit would be. You know what I mean? That's everything with Marry. has a benefit. So why did he marry Shanna? Was it the financial? He never told me that, but that was a benefit. Do you know what I don't, he just seems like that. Like he's, you know, I don't, I just don't see the benefit. And I've spun out about it. You know what I mean? Like, I've thought it through my head and I'm like, you know, what does he gain? What does he gain by doing

this? Because all it is done is blown up Shanna's life. Right. You know what I mean? Like, she would much rather be squabbling between emails than what she's dealing with. There's no benefit to this. Yeah. You know? I agree, and I have run it through my head as well. What other than, what have you come up with other than that? Like, you said you were running it through your head.

Well, I mean, I just try to think of things. You know what I mean? Like I told you, like I just tried to look at all the pieces that are out there. And I don't listen to her noise because she unnerves me. and you know she this whole this whole thing with her has just been Shannon did it you know what she's been saying that since what a month after it's all been you know what I mean hell with the acrimonious and this and that you only know what he told you

you don't mean like anyway I can't figure out the Henry guy that one like that was not what I was expecting well I mean when I saw him like yeah, I mean, you kind of look like a criminal, but like, he just didn't look smart enough to pull this off to me. You know what I mean? If this was a, if this was not some rando, which it appears that it wasn't random to some degree with, you know, the pieces that are out there. But I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. In my head, I don't know what I expected it to be, but I didn't expect it to be that. That one line from Kim really piqued the detective's interest. This is interesting. You said it doesn't appear to be random and then we have these logical connections that are being made so just what is your

art telling you i mean in my logical mind i think if mario did this you'd have called one of your military sniper buddies and it'd be quick easy and nobody would have known the difference and he thinks militaristically like you know what i mean so like this guy that i saw like that's just You know what I mean? Like to me, it's almost like a really bad optic coincidence because I just don't see... What is your heart telling you? What is my heart telling you? My heart's telling me that I know that with the news and the media and everything that, you know, it looks like, you know, there's got to be a connection because Mario's tenant.

But at the same time, I don't see what it benefited him. And even from what I know, like I... of him as a person, which is not near what I know of Shanna. You know what I mean? He was always just like in the background. Like we were acquaintances. Shannon and I were best friends. I just feel like if he was responsible for this,

he would have chosen differently. I didn't, that, that guy did not exude a lot of confidence in me that this was Mario's plan. Not to mention the fact I still can't come up with the benefit. How does this benefit, Mario? for me. That's where my head goes is...

But we still don't know understand the benefit of marrying Shanna, you know? I mean, I do think he liked her. And I do think he even grew...

I mean, I think he loved her. I mean, I heard him say, you know what I mean? That was... You know what I mean? But like, he just... I don't know. There's some guys you think,

oh, you know, you'd be a great husband. You're the marrying kind. And then there's other ones you think, you'd be better single. You know what I mean? Like, you don't have to find.

all the rules. You'd be better single. You don't know what I mean? And when you got a wandering zipper to me, you should be better single. I think that's the best way I've ever heard that. Yeah. I've never heard. Hold on. Give me one moment. Again, Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez-Seldon have pleaded not guilty. Fernandez is expected back in court later this week. His attorney is asking that he be released on bail. They're arguing that after Henry Tennan withdrew his guilty plea, the circumstances of his case have changed dramatically. We'll keep you posted on what happens. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.