A friend says Fernandez called it a hit-and-run before anyone said that — and the lead detective concedes there is no physical evidence of the gun

Two threads ran through the day. The state's thread was people who knew Fernandez. Taylor Kutis, who met him in 2013 during military training in Kentucky and testified by Zoom, said Fernandez had described having "a special set of skills" from his Army years, mentioned "a contract with Gardner's family," and called after Bridegan's death saying "they think it was a hit and run" — a detail prosecutors treat as significant because of when he said it. (Court TV rendered the same testimony as Fernandez saying he thought Bridegan "had died in a hit and run.") Victor Quiroz testified that Fernandez visited his North Carolina home in March 2022 and described him as reliable, adding he "wouldn't have invited him" if he had been suspicious. ATF forensic biologist Glenn Fahrig gave the DNA results, which cut both ways: Tenon's DNA matched the tire's inner rim, the truck key and the steering wheel — and no DNA from Fernandez, Gardner or Bridegan turned up on the tested items. The defense's thread was a long, unusual cross of Det. Johns about the gun. Rather than fight the claim that Fernandez visited a longtime friend, John Biggerstaff, on Jan. 25, 2022, attorney Jesse Dreicer offered the jury a different reason for the visit, asking bluntly: "Let's just get it out in the open. Mr. Biggerstaff was a swinger, correct?" Johns confirmed it, and Dreicer pointed to video on Biggerstaff's phone showing Fernandez with Biggerstaff's wife — an innocent, if awkward, explanation for the visit. Then he got what he came for. Asked whether anything showed a gun changing hands, Johns answered: "There is no physical evidence of that." The murder weapon has never been found. Dreicer also played pole-camera footage of Fernandez doing ordinary construction work at the Potomac Avenue property roughly 20 times in 30 days, often hauling materials and often alongside Tenon, who worked as a contractor. Separately, Judge Kite ruled the jury will not be sequestered. — News4Jax/WJXT — Day 3 · Court TV — live trial updates · Action News Jax — jury will not be sequestered · First Coast News — defense challenges visual evidence, Day 3

• Det. Chris Johns — Jacksonville Beach Police, lead investigator (cross-examination). Conceded there is no physical evidence a gun passed from Biggerstaff to Fernandez, that the 10mm was never recovered, and that no surveillance, DNA or fingerprint places Fernandez in the truck or at the scene.
• Taylor Kutis — Friend of the defendant, testified by Zoom. Met Fernandez in 2013 in the Army. Recalled the "special set of skills" remark, a reference to "a contract with Gardner's family," and the post-murder phone call in which Fernandez said "they think it was a hit and run."
• Victor Quiroz — Friend of the defendant. Fernandez visited his North Carolina home in March 2022. Described him as reliable and said he "wouldn't have invited him" if he had suspected anything — testimony that helps the defense more than the state.
• Glenn Fahrig — ATF forensic biologist (DNA). Tenon's DNA on the tire's inner rim, the truck key and the steering wheel. No DNA from Fernandez, Gardner or Bridegan on the items tested.