This is the Day 1 of the 2-week trial report of the murder trial of Mario Fernandez-Saldana, accused of murdering being part of a murder for hire plot with his wife Shanna Gardner to kill her ex and Microsoft Exec Jared Bridegan after an acrimonious divorce. Mario Fernandez pleads not guilty.
Case Report
Factual background:
On February 16, 2022, 33-year-old Microsoft manager Jared Bridegan was ambushed and killed in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, shortly after dropping off his nine-year-old twins at the home of his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner. While driving back to St. Augustine with his two-year-old daughter in the back seat, Bridegan stopped on a dimly lit section of road to remove a tire intentionally placed in the roadway. When he stepped out of his vehicle, an assailant shot him multiple times at close range, as his toddler watched in her car seat. Investigators traced the killing to a years-long custody and legal dispute between Bridegan and Gardner.
Criminal complaint:
CHARGES:
1st Degree Murder – Guilty – Decided on 26th August 2026
Solicitation to commit murder – Guilty – Decided on 26th August 2026
Victim(s): Jared Bridegan
Courthouse: Duval County Courthouse
Officers of the court
Judge:
Attorneys
Prosecution:
ASA Christina Stifler
ASA Alan Mizrahi
Defence:
Jesse Dreicer
James Hill
Legend:
ASA = Assistant State Attorney
FL v. Mario Fernandez-Santana – Day 1 Trial Summary
Day 1 of proceedings (July 17, 2026) in State of Florida v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana opened with prosecution and defense statements setting up the central legal battle over Jared Bridegan’s murder. Prosecutor Christina Stifler outlined a premeditated murder-for-hire plot, alleging Fernandez-Saldana conspired with hitman Henry Tenon to ambush Bridegan in front of his child, issuing checks disguised as home improvement payments before factory-resetting his phone upon Tenon’s arrest. Defense counsel James Hill argued that no physical or surveillance evidence places Fernandez-Saldana at the scene and maintained that payments to Tenon were for legitimate business contracts.
The prosecution called five initial witnesses, beginning with bystanders Jonnelle Cruz and Shane Borja, who described discovering Bridegan’s body and rescuing his unharmed two-year-old daughter from the car. Sergeant Lawrence Smith detailed the initial response to the unlit crime scene and the discovery of spent shell casings without a firearm present. Victim’s wife Kirsten Bridegan testified about the acrimonious custody battle between Jared and ex-wife Shanna Gardner, noting she urged police to investigate Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana. Finally, Medical Examiner Dr. Peter Gillespie testified that toxicology revealed only caffeine and formally ruled Bridegan’s cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds resulting from homicide.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Kirsten Bridegan – Wife of Victim
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case: Spouse of victim Jared Bridegan.
Summary Of Testimony
Bridegan testified to the severe hostility and complete lack of trust marking the divorce and custody arrangements between Jared and Shanna Gardner. She described trying to contact Jared repeatedly after he failed to return home and recalled specifically naming Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez-Saldana as suspects to investigating officers.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Microsoft Exec Murder Trial — FL v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana — Day 1, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/G3D2vPTn9z8?si=i8vvEnUgvF2KirK4
