This is the Day 4 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 4 Trial Summary
On Day 4 of proceedings (August 20, 2026) in State of Florida v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana, the prosecution focused on firearm investigations, secretly recorded phone calls, and FBI cellular location analysis. Lead Detective Chris Johns concluded his testimony by confirming no eyewitnesses placed Fernandez-Saldana in the blue Ford F-150, though noting Fernandez-Saldana concealed knowing his tenant Henry Tenon owned the truck. ATF Agent Kenneth McStingle detailed weapon inquiries regarding John Biggerstaff, revealing that Biggerstaff owned 10mm firearms, was offered immunity, and that his son was asked to wear a wire. Friend of the defendant Carlos Phung testified regarding the bitter custody battle between Gardner and Bridegan, while recorded phone calls between Phung and Fernandez-Saldana were played for the jury. Finally, FBI Special Agent Bobby Blyth of the Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST) presented critical mobile data, showing Fernandez-Saldana meeting Tenon weeks before the murder, a gap in cell activity during the timeframe of the shooting consistent with airplane mode or power-off, and an outgoing call from Fernandez-Saldana to Tenon shortly after the murder at 8:50 PM.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Bobby Blyth – Special FBI Agent
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case: FBI Special Agent with the Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST) providing expert mobile phone location and tower data analysis.
Summary Of Testimony
Agent Blyth presented cell tower analysis showing Fernandez-Saldana’s phone moved to Tenon’s location on January 29, 2022, before Tenon traveled toward the crime scene area. On the night of the murder (February 16, 2022), Fernandez-Saldana’s phone showed no data, SMS, or call transactions between 7:11 PM and 8:19 PM—consistent with the device being turned off or placed in airplane mode—before making a direct phone call to Henry Tenon at 8:50 PM.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Microsoft Exec Murder Trial — FL v. Mario Fernandez-Saldana — Day 4, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/QrK9aOOJIhQ?si=gG0IVDGqwigFaqvn
