This is the Day 2 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 2 Trial Summary
On Day 2 of proceedings (August 18, 2026) in State of Florida v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana, the prosecution presented physical, surveillance, and interview evidence through law enforcement officers and forensic technicians. Lead Evidence Technician Shane Jahrman introduced crime scene video showing the tire placed in the road, three marked shell casings, and a bullet projectile recovered from the vehicle’s glove compartment. Police Officer Brian Wallace detailed obtaining local surveillance video tracking a truck performing unusual maneuvers near the scene and identifying hitman Henry Tenon walking nearby, though defense cross-examination highlighted timestamp inaccuracies. Detective Brett Burrell verified that a tire at Tenon’s residence matched the tire used as a roadblock. Finally, Lead Detective Chris Johns testified that cell tower dumps ruled out a random attack, noted victim-only DNA on shell casings, confirmed checks written by Fernandez-Saldana to Tenon, and played Fernandez-Saldana’s initial police interview where he voiced strong personal dislike for Bridegan and speculated on motives.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Chris Johns – Lead Detective
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case: Lead investigating detective directing the homicide investigation, digital forensics, suspect interviews, and surveillance operations.
Summary Of Testimony
Detective Johns testified that tower dump analysis and scene evidence ruled out a random crime, confirming a tire was placed to stop Bridegan and that only Bridegan’s DNA was on the shell casings. He detailed business checks written to Tenon by Fernandez-Saldana, wiretap applications, and gait recording comparisons. In his recorded police interview—conducted before he was deemed a suspect—Fernandez-Saldana detailed tense custody battles, stated Bridegan must have known his attacker to exit his vehicle, and remarked that “if you know Jared, you won’t like him”.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Microsoft Exec Murder Trial — FL v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana — Day 2, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/s3IDxtbPgkQ?si=wwlRDEfN8f2EP3ca
