A hitman has been found guilty of orchestrating the murder-for-hire of a Microsoft executive in Florida, a crime prosecutors linked to a contentious custody battle between the victim and his ex-wife. Mario Fernandez-Saldana, 38, was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder and solicitation of murder in the death of Jared Bridegan.
Bridegan, 33, was shot and killed four years ago, in February 2022, after he stopped his SUV to remove a tire that had been placed in the road in Jacksonville Beach. Prosecutors argued that the motive stemmed from ongoing disputes with his former wife, Shanna Gardner, over the couple's twins. Fernandez-Saldana is married to Gardner, whose own murder trial is scheduled to begin in September.
Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler told jurors during closing arguments that Bridegan was "unarmed, unaware, exposed, vulnerable." Evidence presented to the jury included three checks totaling $10,000 written to Henry Tenon, who is alleged to have been the gunman, after the homicide. These checks were marked as payments for handyman work and a business idea. Tenon's DNA was reportedly found on the rim of the tire intentionally placed in the road, according to police.
Tenon, 65, had initially pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Fernandez-Saldana, but he later withdrew from that agreement and is slated to stand trial next year. Fernandez-Saldana's defense attorney argued that his client had no motive and gained no benefit from Bridegan's death, noting a lack of testimony that Fernandez-Saldana had ever expressed a desire for Bridegan to die. The defense also stated that Fernandez-Saldana and Gardner were estranged, and Gardner had moved to Washington state following the killing.
Bridegan, a father of four, was shot twice at the scene. He had been returning two children to Gardner's home after a dinner outing with the twins. At the time of his death, Bridegan was married to Kirsten Bridegan, with whom he had two younger children. Kirsten Bridegan testified to the jury that the relationship between her husband and Gardner after their divorce was "pretty terrible" and lacked trust.