The trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana began Monday in Duval County, Florida, where he faces charges of first-degree murder and solicitation of murder. Prosecutors alleged that Fernandez Saldana, 38, orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot to kill 33-year-old Jared Bridegan, a Microsoft design manager and the ex-husband of Fernandez Saldana’s wife. Bridegan was shot at point-blank range on a Jacksonville Beach road in 2022 after stopping his vehicle to move a tire that had been placed in the middle of the road.
The prosecution and defense presented contrasting views of the events leading up to the homicide. Assistant State Attorney Christina Simak Stifler told jurors that Bridegan and his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, had been involved in a "nasty" and "petty" series of disputes since their 2015 divorce. The arguments reportedly centered on religion, medical appointments, and school conferences for their twins. Gardner, who married Fernandez Saldana after the divorce, allegedly sought full control over the children and the ability to move away from Jacksonville.
According to investigators, a tire found at a rental property owned by Fernandez Saldana matched the tire used to block Bridegan’s vehicle. DNA on the tires led police to Henry Tenon, a former tenant of Fernandez Saldana. Records showed Fernandez Saldana paid Tenon $10,000 following the murder, which the prosecution characterized as payment for the killing. The defense, however, stated these payments were for legitimate work, including landscaping and roof repairs, and argued that Fernandez Saldana’s behavior after the crime did not suggest he was fleeing from the law.
The outcome of this trial will directly influence the upcoming legal proceedings for Shanna Gardner, whose trial is scheduled for September. The case also affects Henry Tenon, the alleged gunman who withdrew a previous guilty plea and is now set for his own trial in 2027. For the four children of Jared Bridegan—the twins he shared with Gardner and the two children he had with his second wife, Kirsten—the verdict will conclude years of legal uncertainty regarding the death of their father. The case has already seen significant shifts, including the relocation of Gardner and the twins to Washington state following the homicide.
The trial is expected to continue through the coming weeks as jurors weigh testimony from investigators and potentially Tenon. The defense has emphasized Fernandez Saldana's status as an Army veteran and noted that despite having access to his wife's substantial trust fund, he did not attempt to flee the country. A specific end date for the trial has not been reported, but the court’s decision will set the stage for Gardner’s appearance in court next month. The proceedings are being held in the Duval County court system.