On Wednesday, a man accused of orchestrating the murder of a Microsoft design manager on a Florida street was found guilty. This case involves a complex history of child custody disputes between the victim and his ex-wife. Jared Bridegan was shot four years ago, shortly after exiting his SUV to remove a tire obstructing a road. His daughter sat in her car seat during the incident.
Prosecutors attribute the crime to ongoing disagreements between Bridegan and his former spouse over parenting. Mario Fernandez Saldana, 38, faced a conviction for first-degree murder as well as solicitation of murder after the jury’s nearly four-hour deliberation, according to WJAX-TV, a CBS affiliate. He was married to Shanna Gardner, Bridegan’s ex-wife, whose trial is anticipated in September.
Prosecutors insisted that Bridegan’s death was the result of a “targeted ambush” concocted by Gardner and Saldana. Their ongoing post-divorce conflicts, including disputes about religion and child-rearing practices, highlighted the strained relationship. Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler remarked how Bridegan was “unarmed, unaware, exposed, and vulnerable” when ambushed.
During the trial, Stifler mentioned how Gardner wanted to prevent her children from involvement with the Mormon church. The relationship was marked by animosity and disagreements. In response, defense attorney Jesse Dreicer argued that Fernandez Saldana had no motive for Bridegan’s murder, arguing that there was no evidence he desired Bridegan’s death.
The alleged hitman, Henry Tenon, had no direct personal ties to Bridegan but was previously a tenant at Fernandez Saldana’s Jacksonville rental property. Checks totaling $10,000 were shown to jurors, intended as payment for handyman work and a business venture with no apparent connection to the crime. Tenon’s DNA matched evidence found on the road obstruction used in the ambush.
Tenon initially agreed to testify against Fernandez Saldana but later withdrew his guilty plea, pending trial next year. Gardner, 39, is related to the co-founder of Utah-based Stampin’ Up!, revealing her ties to wealth.
Bridegan was shot twice retrieving a tire from the road after returning his twins to Gardner following a dinner outing. He was married to Kirsten Bridegan at the time, sharing two children. She described the post-divorce environment as “pretty terrible” with “absolutely no trust.” In 2022, Kirsten Bridegan launched the Bridegan Foundation, which aims to minimize trauma for children in police stations after her own daughter endured a lengthy stay without parental presence or necessary supplies.