Full Breakdown
Murder of Microsoft Executive Jared Bridegan: Trial of Alleged Plotters
8/18/2026, 6:01:37 AM
The Fatal Ambush
In February 2022, Jared Bridegan, a 33-year-old Microsoft design manager, was shot multiple times while stopped on a Jacksonville Beach street to remove a tire deliberately placed in his path. His 2-year-old daughter, Bexley, remained unharmed in a car seat. Police recovered shell casings and noted that Bridegan’s wallet, watch and other personal items were left untouched, indicating no robbery motive.
Background and Custody Dispute
Bridegan and Shanna Gardner divorced in 2015. Their split involved a protracted custody battle over their twin children. After the divorce, Gardner remarried Army veteran Mario Fernandez Saldana. Prosecutors allege Gardner’s “ill will” toward Bridegan motivated the plot.
Timeline of Investigation and Legal Proceedings
- February 2022 – Bridegan is ambushed and killed.
- Early 2023 – Police arrest Henry Tenon, a 62-year-old tenant of Fernandez Saldana, as the alleged gunman.
- March 2023 – Tenon pleads guilty to second-degree murder with a weapon in exchange for testimony against Fernandez Saldana and Gardner.
- August 2023 – State Attorney Melissa Nelson says the investigation has uncovered the truth of the murder.
- 2025 – Tenon withdraws his guilty plea; a judge permits a trial in 2027.
- 2026 – Mario Fernandez Saldana’s first-degree murder and solicitation trial begins in Duval County.
- September 2026 – Shanna Gardner’s trial is scheduled.
- 2027 – Tenon’s separate trial is set.
Data & Statistics
- Multiple bullets struck Bridegan; one landed inches from his daughter.
- Prosecutors say three checks written by Fernandez Saldana to Tenon in October 2022 total $10,000.
- Phone records show more than 60 contacts between Fernandez Saldana and Tenon.
- GPS data placed Tenon on Bridegan’s route twice in the month before the shooting, described as “practice runs.”
Official Statements & Responses
State Attorney Melissa Nelson emphasized the link between Tenon and the victim: “Our investigation has revealed a single link between Jared Bridegan and Henry Tenon.”
Judge London Kite highlighted Gardner’s expressed hatred for Bridegan and her desire to eliminate him as a co-parent.
Assistant State Attorney Christina Simak Stifler described the killing as a “targeted ambush” and noted the lack of witnesses.
On-the-Ground Reports
A child who heard “loud booms” after the shooting asked, “Are police going to help my daddy?”
Kirsten Bridegan, Jared’s widow, posted on social media after the anniversary of his death, expressing sorrow and gratitude.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Tenon’s 2023 guilty plea and 2025 withdrawal create a discrepancy regarding his testimony’s reliability. Prosecutors say the plea was part of a deal; the defense argues it was coerced.
- The exact role of Fernandez Saldana in arranging payment to Tenon remains contested, with prosecutors citing checks and the defense pointing to a lack of direct evidence linking him to the shooting.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our investigation has revealed a single link between Jared Bridegan and Henry Tenon,” — Melissa Nelson
- “Are police going to help my daddy?” — Christina Simak Stifler
- “I am so sorry that once you had found happiness and fulfillment in life, your life was taken from you,” — Kirsten Bridegan
What’s Next
Mario Fernandez Saldana faces a first-degree murder trial this week, with potential sentencing up to life imprisonment if convicted. Shanna Gardner’s trial is slated for early September, and Henry Tenon’s trial is scheduled for 2027. All three cases remain pending as the courts evaluate the murder-for-hire allegations and the credibility of key testimony.
