Full Breakdown
Murder-for-Hire Trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana
8/19/2026, 4:14:14 AM
Background & Context
Jared Bridegan, a 33-year-old Microsoft design manager, was shot to death on February 16 2022 while driving home after dropping off his twins at the Jacksonville-Beach home of his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner. Investigators allege Gardner and her husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, hired tenant Henry Tenon to fire the fatal shots. The killing occurred in front of Bridegan’s 2-year-old daughter, Bexley, who was unharmed in her car seat.
Timeline
- February 16 2022 – Bridegan stops to move a tire placed in the roadway; he is ambushed and shot multiple times.
- January 2022 – Prosecutors say Tenon made two “practice runs” of Bridegan’s normal route.
- March 28 2022 and April 4 2022 – Checks totaling $10,000 are written by Fernandez Saldana to Tenon for landscaping, roof work and a “Kickstarter” memo.
- March 16 2023 – Tenon pleads guilty to second-degree murder and agrees to testify against co-defendants.
- 2026 – Fernandez Saldana’s trial begins in Duval County; opening statements are delivered.
Data & Statistics
- $10,000 in checks (three separate payments) linked to Tenon.
- Four 10 mm rounds fired; two struck Bridegan, two struck his SUV near Bexley’s seat.
- One tire placed on Sanctuary Boulevard South served as the trap.
- No valuables were taken from Bridegan’s vehicle.
Official Statements & Responses
Both attorneys argue that the financial trail—checks from Fernandez Saldana to Tenon—demonstrates a solicitation to commit murder.
Defense Arguments (Criticism & Opposition)
Defense counsel Jesse Dreicer and attorney James Hill contend that the state lacks direct evidence tying Fernandez Saldana to the shooting. They note the absence of DNA linking him to the scene, no surveillance showing him near the tire, and a 36-minute video gap during which the blue pickup truck’s whereabouts are unknown. Hill argues the $10,000 could represent legitimate work, noting Tenon was evicted from Fernandez’s property three weeks before the killing. The defense maintains that Tenon acted alone and that the prosecution’s case relies on circumstantial connections.
On-the-Ground Reports
Witnesses Shane Borja and Janelle Cruz arrived minutes after the shooting. Borja initially thought Bridegan needed help with a flat tire; he found the victim face-down in blood and rescued Bexley, who repeatedly asked whether police would help her father. Cruz recorded a video of Bexley in her car, capturing the child’s repeated “Boom!” description of the gunfire.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Location of Fernandez Saldana: Prosecutors say phone records place him near the scene; Stiffler admits, “We can’t say where Mario Fernandez was during the time of the homicide.”
- Surveillance evidence: Defense points out no video of Fernandez entering the blue pickup and a 36-minute period lacking any camera coverage.
- Financial motive: The state frames the checks as payment for the murder; the defense characterizes them as payment for legitimate services.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our investigation has revealed a single link between Jared Bridegan and Henry Tenon,” — Melissa Nelson, state attorney
- “We can’t say where Mario Fernandez was during the time of the homicide,” — Prosecutor Christina Stiffler
What’s Next
The trial is scheduled to run through the end of August 2026. After jury selection, the prosecution will present forensic, financial and eyewitness evidence, while the defense will focus on the lack of direct links to Fernandez. Shanna Gardner’s trial is slated for early September 2026, and Henry Tenon’s separate trial is set for March 2027.
