This is the Day 5 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 5 Trial Summary
On Day 5 of proceedings (August 21, 2026) in State of Florida v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana, the prosecution presented digital forensic communications analysis, device destruction logs, and expert ballistics testimony. FBI Special Agent Bobby Blyth concluded his testimony following cross-examination without new facts introduced. Former ATF Agent Lindsay Butler presented communication tracking showing high-volume contact between Fernandez-Saldana and hitman Henry Tenon leading up to the murder, a surge in calls with associate John Biggerstaff, and 5,412 account deletions logged on March 1, 2022—the date of initial police interviews. Digital Forensics Specialist James Ostertag testified that Fernandez-Saldana’s mobile phone was completely wiped and factory reset on August 26, 2022, shortly after Tenon’s arrest. Finally, Firearms Examiner Daniel Hausdarf provided expert ballistics testimony establishing that the bullet projectiles recovered from the homicide scene were consistent with a 10mm Glock firearm.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Lindsay Butler – Former ATF Agent
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case: Former ATF Special Intelligence Specialist (civilian role) analyzing communication frequency charts and web activity records.
Summary Of Testimony
Butler testified to extensive communications between Fernandez-Saldana and Tenon across early 2022 (26 in Jan, 37 in Feb, 32 in Mar) and escalating contact with John Biggerstaff from April to August 2022. She highlighted 5,412 account deletions on March 1, 2022, coinciding with police interviews, and noted web searches by Tenon on March 20, 2022, for business plan templates, as well as an August 2022 call from Fernandez-Saldana to inmate Jamie Deal.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Microsoft Exec Murder Trial — FL v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana — Day 5, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/NUdSZ6au9q4?si=e8pU_sJ_fkWqi7fJ
