Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Kristen Bridegan, Jared’s wife, said she felt “great relief” knowing that Tenon and Fernandez Saldana are behind bars and “no longer a threat” to her and her children.
“We are also still angry — angry that they were walking free while we were grappling with the reality that Jared wouldn’t be here for any future memories, vacations, or tender moments with our kids,” she said.
Prosecutors described the relationship between Gardner-Fernandez and Jared as “contentious.” Proceedings in their divorce case continued for years after the marriage was dissolved, regarding matters including financial support and custody of their children.
Since Bridegan’s death, Gardner-Fernandez has also become the center of tabloid coverage that speculated the divorce was a factor in the killing. Paparazzi photos were taken of her and her family.
“Talk about a violation of privacy. That was something not… it pulled the rug out from underneath us. Because my kids know they were photographed. And they were worried. They were worried that their images are out there, they were worried people might be following us,” Gardner-Fernandez told local news outlet Action News JAX in June, five months after her ex-husband’s death.
She also told the outlet she had nothing to do with her ex-husband’s death, saying she had no clue if the ambush was targeted.
“I do not have any idea. I… As I said, we’ve been divorced,” she said at the time. “We don’t run in the same social circles. All I know is that I would never want anyone to go through this.”
