Shanna Gardner, far right, is accused of murdering her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan. Her parents, Shelli and Sterling Gardner, were given guardianship of the twins she shares with Bridegan.
The widow of murdered Microsoft manager Jared Bridegan is speaking out against a recent custody agreement that places two of his children in the care of the parents of his accused killer.
The 12-year-old twins have been living with Shelli and Sterling Gardner since their mother, Shanna Gardner, was arrested over a year ago for her alleged role in their father’s murder in February 2022.
Jared’s widow, Kirsten Bridegan, who shares two younger children with him, expressed her frustration in a social media post.
“My heart is heavier than usual this week,” Kirsten wrote on the Justice for Jared B. Instagram page. “This isn’t what Jared would have wanted, and this isn’t what I want, but some things are out of my control.”
Custody Battle Before the Murder
Jared and his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, were in a heated custody battle when he was shot and killed in Jacksonville Beach.
Jared’s parents, Gaylord and JoAnne Bridegan, have accused the Gardners of helping their daughter escape to Washington state after the murder to avoid suspicion. They also claim they were denied access to their grandchildren after Shanna’s arrest.
Shanna, who has been in jail for over a year, denies any involvement in Jared’s death.
Her parents, Shelli and Sterling Gardner, are wealthy business owners who co-founded Stampin’ Up!, a multimillion-dollar papercraft company. They have financially supported their daughter for years.
Jared’s parents fought for unsupervised visits with the twins and wanted to be named their guardians instead.
Secret Custody Agreement
Just before the case went to trial in Benton County Superior Court, both sides reached a confidential agreement. They released a joint statement saying they came to a resolution through “cooperation and collaboration.”
“For both sets of grandparents, the proceedings were never about ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ but about ensuring the children’s well-being,” the statement read. “Both parties are happy with what was settled on.”
Details of the deal were not shared, but a source confirmed that Gaylord and JoAnne Bridegan were granted visitation rights.
Kirsten Bridegan Speaks Out
In an Instagram post, Kirsten said she was not involved in the custody agreement and does not support it.
“I had no part in this and do not agree with it,” she wrote. “Let’s hope and pray for justice in the criminal case, because it definitely wasn’t served here.”
She also accused Shanna’s parents of keeping the twins from having contact with their half-siblings, Bexley, 5, and London, 3.
“The kids are still not allowed to call or FaceTime each other,” Kirsten wrote in another post. “So no, I don’t think ‘a lot of good’ came from this. Barely any, to be honest. And definitely not for the children.”
Kirsten also criticized the secrecy of the deal, saying she was excluded because she’s not considered “immediate family.”
“They want to keep it private so the world can’t see how they operate,” she wrote. “Jared would have never agreed to something like this. He went into debt fighting for his kids and would have done anything to keep them connected.”
Murder Investigation and Trial
Jared was killed on February 16, 2022, shortly after dropping off the twins at Shanna’s home. While driving home, he stopped his SUV when he saw a tire in the middle of the road. As he stepped out, he was shot multiple times in front of his 2-year-old daughter, Bexley, who was still in her car seat.
Prosecutors say Shanna and her estranged husband, Mario Fernandez, hired a man named Henry Tenon to carry out the murder.
Gardner and Fernandez are awaiting trial for first-degree murder and could face the death penalty if convicted. Tenon has already pleaded guilty and is cooperating with authorities.
“I will NEVER be ashamed for fighting for my husband—many times, alone,” Kirsten wrote. “Jared never gave up, and neither will I.”