Man Convicted in Murder-for-Hire of Wife’s Microsoft Manager Ex During Heated Custody Battle 

In a significant turn of justice, Mario Fernandez Saldana has been convicted of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony, linked to the execution-style killing of Jared Bridegan in February 2022. Saldana, 38, was found guilty by a Duval County jury after deliberating for around four hours, a decision that reflected a painstaking investigation and trial process.

On February 16, 2022, Jared Bridegan, a 33-year-old father of four, was shot twice after stepping out of his vehicle—the family’s Volkswagen Atlas—to clear a tyre that prosecutors allege was intentionally placed in the middle of the road in Jacksonville Beach. At the time of the incident, Bridegan’s young daughter and his new wife, Kirsten, remained inside the car, entirely unaware of the dangerous situation unfolding outside.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson addressed the court following the verdict, emphasising that while accountability had been established, the pain faced by Bridegan’s family remains unchanged. “Nothing about today can restore what was taken from this family or ease the pain they have endured now for many years, but today there is accountability,” Nelson stated, highlighting the extensive efforts of law enforcement and investigators, who had invested years in seeking justice for Bridegan and his family.

The investigation revealed a complex web involving Saldana, who allegedly conspired with his partner, Shanna Gardner, to orchestrate Bridegan’s murder amid ongoing custody disputes. Prosecutors allege that Saldana hired his tenant, Henry Tenon, to execute the plot. It is claimed that Gardner, through a family trust, could only secure her role as trustee after resolving all legal issues with Bridegan, thereby motivating the alleged conspiracy.

According to court documents, Saldana reportedly paid Tenon more than £8,000 to carry out the murder. During the trial, Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler depicted Bridegan as “unarmed, unaware, exposed, vulnerable,” indicating that while he was in the throes of life’s mundane tasks, the precise details of his assassination had been meticulously planned for months.

Henry Tenon was the first individual arrested in relation to the murder. Authorities connected him to the crime after his vehicle, a blue Ford F-150, was identified as the getaway car, and his DNA was discovered on the tyre used to lure Bridegan into a trap. Initially confessing to the shooting, Tenon subsequently recanted his confession and is expected to face trial himself in March 2026.

Meanwhile, Shanna Gardner was apprehended in August 2023 and now faces charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Her trial is scheduled to begin in September 2026, marking a comprehensive legal battle that continues as the investigation unfolds.

Kirsten Bridegan, Jared’s widow, expressed profound gratitude towards law enforcement and the community for their persistent support and effort in pursuing justice. “Never in my life did I think I would be in this situation,” she shared. “I quickly realised that I was not alone. Truth was seen in that courtroom. The jury saw that truth and they acted accordingly.”

Kirsten also voiced her relief and determination for continued justice, reiterating that the verdict against Saldana was only part of a larger pursuit of accountability for her husband’s murder. She emphasised her belief that “truth won today,” affirming her faith in the judicial system as it continues to address the actions of those involved in this tragic case.

The repercussions of this murder-for-hire scheme have reverberated throughout the community, illustrating the deeply entrenched issues surrounding familial disputes and the lengths to which individuals might go. As the legal process continues for the remaining defendants, the Bridegan family remains resolute in their quest for total justice, signifying a broader narrative about accountability and the fight against violence in familial contexts.