Ex-Wife's Bestie Spills Secrets in Microsoft Exec Murder Case
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Shana Gardner and Mario Fernandez Sana were arrested for the murder of Shana's ex-husband, Jared Brideigan, with Henry Tenan implicated as the hired shooter.
- ❖Kim Jensen, Shana's best friend, described Jared as a narcissist, lazy, and controlling, who used money and children for manipulation.
- ❖Jensen initially believed Jared's murder was linked to his 'shady crap' and love for money, possibly involving his Freemason ties.
- ❖Jensen expressed doubt about Henry Tenan's involvement, stating he didn't 'look smart enough' to pull off a hit, and questioned Mario's benefit from the murder.
- ❖Prosecutors presented text messages from 2015-2016 between Shana and Jensen, allegedly in code, discussing a 'magician' to make someone 'disappear,' which Jensen downplayed as typical frustration.
Insights
1Jared Brideigan's Character and Financial Motivations
Kim Jensen, who knew Jared since he was a child, characterized him as quiet, having few friends, and consistently dating wealthy girls. She stated he was 'lazy,' 'never worked the entire time they were married,' and was a 'narcissist' who always had to be in control. Jensen emphasized that 'everything with Jared has from what I know everything was always about money.' She also revealed Jared and his father were Freemasons, which she considered 'shady crap,' and believed his murder was likely a result of a 'business deal gone bad' or 'some random gang initiation' due to his financial dealings.
Jensen's personal observations from knowing Jared for over 20 years and his family. Her statement that 'everything with Jared has from what I know everything was always about money' and his involvement in Freemasonry. (, , , )
2Shana Gardner's Struggles and Focus on Children
Jensen described Shana as struggling 'hard emotionally' after the divorce, working three jobs while Jared allegedly worked 'under the table' to avoid child support. Despite the contentious relationship, Shana consistently prioritized her children, never speaking negatively about Jared to them, even when they reported his attempts to turn them against her. Jensen stated Shana's 'every decision she made through her marriage and her divorce was always how will this affect my kids?'
Jensen's account of Shana working three jobs (), Jared's alleged 'under the table' work (), and Shana's consistent protective behavior towards her children ().
3Skepticism Regarding Mario Fernandez's Involvement and Henry Tenan's Suitability
Jensen found it difficult to believe Mario Fernandez would orchestrate Jared's murder, stating, 'Mario is a very selfish person. Mario doesn't do much that doesn't benefit him.' She couldn't identify a 'benefit' for Mario in the murder, noting it only 'blown up Shana's life.' Furthermore, she was highly skeptical of Henry Tenan as a hitman, describing him as not looking 'smart enough to pull this off' and lacking 'an air of confidence.' She theorized that if Mario were truly planning a hit, he would have chosen a 'military sniper buddy' for a 'quick, easy' job, given his military background.
Jensen's statements: 'I just don't see where the benefit would be' (), 'Mario is a very selfish person' (), and her assessment of Tenan: 'he just didn't look smart enough to pull this off to me' (), and 'if Mario did this, you'd have called one of your military sniper buddies' ().
4Text Messages and Interpretation of 'Code'
Prosecutors presented text messages from 2015-2016 between Shana, Kim Jensen, and Susan Lee, which they claimed were 'code' for Shana's desire to see Jared dead. Examples include Jensen's text, 'If I can't make a casserole, prison is the next best option' (referring to Jared), and asking if anyone knew 'magicians' who perform 'permanent disappearing acts.' Jensen, in her interview, did not explicitly address these texts but her overall testimony frames her and Shana's frustrations as typical for a bitter divorce.
Text exchanges from May 2015 and July 2016, where Jensen refers to 'sending stupid to prison' () and asking about 'magicians' for 'permanent disappearing acts' ().
Quotes
"He never worked the entire time they were married. I always thought he was lazy."
"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."
"Because he's a narcissist. His mother is her. She'll tell you he's just like his father. He's very controlling. He's a narcissist."
"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. Um and Jared wasn't that guy."
"He was into he was a Freemason, he and his dad. And to me, that's just some shady crap."
"I don't see what the benefit would be. And Mario is a very selfish person. Mario doesn't do much that doesn't benefit him."
"In my logical mind, I think if Mario did this, you'd have called one of your military sniper buddies and it would have been quick, easy, and nobody would have known the difference."
Q&A
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