The widow of slain Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan faced the man accused of helping to orchestrate his killing on Monday, testifying about the contentious custody battle and a final, unsettling phone call that preceded the ambush. Kirsten Bridegan took the stand as the murder trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana began in Florida.
Prosecutors allege that Fernandez Saldana helped plan and finance the murder of Jared Bridegan, with Henry Tenon identified as the gunman. Fernandez Saldana has pleaded not guilty, and his defense attorneys contend the state cannot prove he solicited or intended Bridegan's death.
Jurors were shown Nest and Ring footage that prosecutors claim tracked Bridegan's black Volkswagen Atlas and a blue two-tone truck in South Jacksonville Beach minutes before the killing. A Jacksonville Beach corporal testified that another camera captured footage of a person identified by prosecutors as Tenon walking and then running from the scene, accompanied by the sound of gunfire.
The recordings placed the truck near Ocean Cay and Builders Choice around 6:50 p.m., but investigators were unable to identify the license plate, according to the corporal.
Kirsten Bridegan's testimony detailed a strained co-parenting relationship between Jared Bridegan, his ex-wife Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, and Fernandez Saldana. "There's absolutely no trust," Kirsten told jurors, explaining that communication relied almost exclusively on texts and emails. She described ongoing disputes over parenting time, medical expenses, schooling, and religious upbringing for Bridegan's twins.
Prosecutors argue that this years-long conflict fueled the alleged murder-for-hire plot. Jared Bridegan, 33, was shot and killed on Feb. 16, 2022, shortly after dropping off his twins at Gardner-Fernandez's home following a dinner outing with them and his daughter Bexley. He encountered a tire placed in the middle of a dark, secluded Jacksonville Beach road, prosecutors said.
Bridegan had stepped out of his Volkswagen Atlas to move the tire around 7:30 p.m. when he was repeatedly shot. His 2-year-old daughter, Bexley, was in the car seat as bullets entered the SUV. A passerby removed her from the vehicle approximately three minutes later.
Kirsten Bridegan testified that the Wednesday outing was a regular occurrence, with Bexley always accompanying her father, who typically drove the black Volkswagen Atlas. She recounted a phone call with Bridegan after he dropped off the twins, during which Bexley excitedly mentioned getting ice cream. The call ended abruptly in silence, Kirsten testified. "It was strange. I remember feeling like it was strange because after I was like, ‘All right, well, love you, I’ll see you soon.’ He was just quiet," she said. "I was like, ‘Okay, it’s kind of weird,’ and hung up, but it was like a pause and just quiet."
When Bridegan did not return home, his wife began calling him and drove toward Jacksonville Beach with her mother. A police officer eventually answered Bridegan's phone and directed them to the police station. Kirsten testified that officers initially questioned her about Bridegan before informing her of his death.
During a recorded interview played for jurors, Fernandez Saldana suggested Bridegan might have been killed over money, offering an alternative motive theory to investigators. He also described Gardner-Fernandez as angry about the school notifying parents of the killing and discussed ongoing hostility related to co-parenting and control of the children.
The case has led to three arrests, a withdrawn cooperation plea, and a series of separate trials. The conflict began when Shanna Gardner-Fernandez filed for divorce from Jared Bridegan in February 2015. The couple shared twins and eventually agreed on a joint-custody arrangement, but disputes over custody, child support, and schooling persisted in family court. Prosecutors have identified this prolonged conflict as central to the alleged motive.
Jared Bridegan married Kirsten Bridegan in 2017, and they had two children. Shanna Gardner-Fernandez married Fernandez Saldana in 2018. Prosecutors allege Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez Saldana planned and financed a murder-for-hire plot against Jared Bridegan.
Henry Tenon was arrested in January 2023, nearly a year after the killing, and charged with murder, conspiracy, and child abuse. Prosecutors later alleged Tenon was the gunman. Investigators identified Fernandez Saldana as a key link to Tenon, noting he had rented a home to Tenon and hired him for work. Fernandez Saldana was arrested in March 2023, shortly after Tenon initially agreed to a plea deal and cooperation agreement, which he later withdrew. Tenon is now scheduled for a separate trial.
Shanna Gardner-Fernandez was arrested in October 2023 and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and child endangerment. Prosecutors allege Gardner-Fernandez, Fernandez Saldana, and Tenon played distinct roles in the planned killing, while Gardner-Fernandez denies the allegations.
In April 2026, the judge ordered separate trials for Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez Saldana. Jury selection for Fernandez Saldana's trial began in August 2026, with his trial commencing on August 17. Jury selection for Gardner-Fernandez's case is scheduled for late August, with her trial to begin in early September. Tenon's trial is the last of the related prosecutions, with jury selection set for March 2027.