A Florida jury began deliberations Wednesday in the trial of Mario Fernandez-Saldana, who was convicted of first-degree murder and solicitation of murder in the 2022 killing of Jared Bridegan, a Microsoft design manager and father of four.
Key developments:
- Fernandez-Saldana was found guilty of orchestrating Bridegan’s murder as part of an alleged murder-for-hire scheme.
- The jury is now weighing the evidence after closing arguments concluded Tuesday.
The case centers on Bridegan’s shooting death on February 16, 2022, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Prosecutors allege the killing was motivated by a longstanding custody dispute between Bridegan and his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, who is Fernandez-Saldana’s estranged wife.
The killing and investigation
Bridegan, 33, was shot twice while removing a tire from a road after dropping off his twins—his children with Gardner—at her home. He had just finished a meal with the children, who were nine years old at the time. His then-two-year-old daughter, Bexley, was in the back seat of his vehicle when the shooting occurred.
Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith stated that the tire was "purposely placed" on the road to force Bridegan to stop, where he was then fatally shot. Bridegan was unarmed and had no known personal conflicts with others involved.
Prosecution’s case
Prosecutors argued that Fernandez-Saldana, 38, hired Henry Tenon, a former tenant, to carry out the killing. Tenon initially pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Fernandez-Saldana but later withdrew his plea and will stand trial separately in 2025. The prosecution presented financial transactions and communications linking Fernandez-Saldana to Tenon as key evidence.
Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler described Bridegan as "unarmed, unaware, exposed, and vulnerable" during closing arguments, emphasizing that the planning for his murder had been underway for months.
Defense’s arguments
Fernandez-Saldana’s legal team contended there was no physical evidence directly connecting him to the crime. The defense highlighted the absence of DNA evidence and argued that Fernandez-Saldana never explicitly stated a desire for Bridegan’s death.
The defense also noted that Tenon, the alleged shooter, had no prior relationship with Bridegan, which they suggested undermined the prosecution’s motive theory tied to the custody dispute.
Background on the parties
- Jared Bridegan worked as a design manager at Microsoft and was survived by his wife, Kirsten Bridegan, and their two children, Bexley and London.
- Shanna Gardner, Bridegan’s ex-wife, is Fernandez-Saldana’s estranged spouse. She has not been charged in connection with the killing.
- Mario Fernandez-Saldana and Gardner were married at the time of the murder but had been estranged. Fernandez-Saldana faces additional charges, including child abuse and conspiracy.
The trial has drawn attention due to the unusual circumstances of Bridegan’s death and the alleged involvement of a custody dispute in a murder-for-hire plot. The jury’s deliberations will determine whether Fernandez-Saldana is held legally accountable for the killing.