JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a heart-wrenching battle for visitation rights, the parents of Jared Bridegan, a father of four who was tragically killed in an ambush murder in Jacksonville Beach two years ago, are seeking to gain visitation rights with Bridegan’s two older children. The children’s mother, Shanna Gardner, stands accused alongside her estranged husband Mario Fernandez for orchestrating Bridegan’s shooting death.
The situation is especially difficult for Bridegan’s older two children, who are twins now 11 years old. The children are currently living with their maternal grandparents in Washington state, while Bridegan’s younger daughters live in Florida with his widow. The separation has been devastating for the children, as they not only lost their father but also the support and bond with their siblings.
The legal battle for visitation rights has been financially taxing for Bridegan’s parents, who have started a GoFundMe to raise money for attorneys. They have been advocating for in-person, unsupervised visitation with the twins, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a bond with their father’s side of the family.
Amid this emotional turmoil, Bridegan’s family is also preparing for a pending criminal trial for Jared’s senseless murder. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Gardner’s parents have taken full custody of the twins since her arrest. While Bridegan’s family has considered seeking full custody of the older children, they ultimately want the twins to have the freedom to choose where they want to live.
Despite reaching out to Gardner’s parents’ attorney for a comment on the visitation case, no response has been received. As the legal battle continues, Bridegan’s family remains determined to fight for what they believe is right, hoping to provide some sense of healing and normalcy for the children amidst such a tragic loss.