Mario Fernandez Saldana, 38, went on trial Monday in Duval County court, facing first-degree murder charges for allegedly orchestrating the fatal ambush of Jared Bridegan, 33, a Microsoft design manager, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, in February 2022.
The prosecution alleges that Saldana, along with his wife Shanna Gardner and another individual, planned the killing as part of a monthslong murder-for-hire plot. Bridegan was shot multiple times while retrieving a tire from the road after dropping off his children at Gardner’s home. His 2-year-old daughter, who was in the backseat, remained unharmed. Police described the incident as a planned and targeted ambush.
Key developments in the case
Saldana is the first of three defendants to face trial in connection with the killing. Shanna Gardner, Bridegan’s ex-wife, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder, and child abuse. Her trial is scheduled to begin in September 2024. A third individual, Henry Tenon, 65, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2023 and agreed to testify against Saldana but later withdrew his plea. Tenon is now set to stand trial separately in 2027.
The alleged plot and timeline
According to investigators, the murder plot began after Bridegan and Gardner’s 2015 divorce, which was followed by years of acrimony over custody of their two children. Police reports cited by the court described Gardner as harboring deep resentment toward Bridegan, with Judge London Kite summarizing that she “hated Mr. Bridegan, hated having to share custody of the children with him and wanted him dead.”
The prosecution alleges that Gardner and Saldana conspired to lure Bridegan into a trap by placing a tire in the road. Bridegan stopped his vehicle, exited to move the tire, and was shot multiple times by an unidentified assailant. Surveillance footage and DNA evidence, including Tenon’s DNA found on the tire, linked him to the crime. Authorities stated that Tenon was paid at least $10,000 by Gardner and Saldana after the killing.
Court proceedings and legal arguments
The trial centers on whether Saldana, as the alleged mastermind, directed the killing. Prosecutors allege that Saldana provided financial support to Tenon and coordinated the plot with Gardner. Defense attorneys for Saldana have not yet commented publicly on the charges. The case has drawn significant attention due to the victim’s professional background and the circumstances surrounding the murder, including the presence of Bridegan’s young daughter in the vehicle.
Background on the victim and family
Jared Bridegan was a Microsoft executive who had custody arrangements with Gardner for their two children. He was married to Kirsten Bridegan, with whom he had a baby at the time of his death. The couple had been married since 2017. Bridegan’s family has spoken publicly about the impact of his death, with Kirsten Bridegan posting on social media about the anniversary of his passing.
The case remains ongoing, with further testimony and evidence expected to be presented during the trial.