This is the Day 3 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 3 Trial Summary
On Day 3 of proceedings (August 19, 2026) in State of Florida v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana, court proceedings centred on defense cross-examination of lead investigator Detective Chris Johns, testimony from two personal friends of the defendant, and physical DNA analysis from a state forensic biologist. Defense counsel cross-examined Detective Johns to highlight the lack of physical evidence linking Fernandez-Saldana to the scene, establishing that no hair or DNA belonging to the defendant was found in the suspect Ford F-150 truck, while noting custody filings where Shanna Gardner described Jared Bridegan as a positive influence on their children. Personal acquaintances Taylor Kutis and Victor Quiroz testified regarding their interactions with the defendant following the murder; Kutis recalled Fernandez-Saldana telling her days later that Bridegan died in a “hit and run” and referencing a family “contract,” whereas Quiroz testified that Fernandez-Saldana never mentioned the homicide despite playing video games together regularly. Finally, Forensic Biologist Glenn Ferrig confirmed that DNA on the three spent shell casings matched Bridegan (1 trillion times more likely) and swabs from the pickup truck matched Henry Tenon, while explicitly confirming under cross-examination that zero physical or biological evidence connected Fernandez-Saldana to the scene or vehicle.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Chris Johns – Lead Detective (Continuation)
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
On cross-examination, Detective Johns confirmed that court documents indicated Shanna Gardner was not attempting to terminate timesharing and had referred to Bridegan as a positive influence. He testified that there was no evidence showing Fernandez-Saldana knew Bridegan would exit his vehicle on the night of the shooting, admitted he did not know the defendant’s specific location on January 5, 2022, and confirmed that not a single strand of hair or DNA belonging to Fernandez-Saldana was discovered inside the Ford F-150.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Microsoft Exec Murder Trial — FL v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana — Day 3, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/9Ky2rKHPErw?si=B6WHcxQCyTll–Hm
