Full Breakdown
Jury Convicts Mario Fernandez Saldana in Murder-For-Hire Trial of Microsoft Manager
8/27/2026, 8:33:26 AM
Core Event: Verdict and Charges
A Duval County jury found Mario Fernandez Saldana guilty of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony for the February 2022 ambush that killed Jared Bridegan, a senior design manager at Microsoft. Prosecutors said Fernandez Saldana, married to Bridegan’s ex-wife Shanna Gardner, arranged for tenant Henry Tenon to fire the fatal shots. Two bullets struck Bridegan’s Volkswagen Atlas, narrowly missing his two-year-old daughter, Bexley, who was in a car seat.
Background & Context
Bridegan and Gardner divorced in 2015 and shared custody of their nine-year-old twins. The post-divorce relationship turned into a high-conflict custody battle that persisted for years. Prosecutors described the murder-for-hire plot as an attempt to end the dispute and gain greater decision-making authority over the children.
Key Figures & Groups
- Mario Fernandez Saldana – 38-year-old husband of Shanna Gardner; accused architect of the killing.
- Shanna Gardner – 39-year-old mother of the twins; former spouse of Jared Bridegan.
- Henry Tenon – 65-year-old former tenant of Fernandez Saldana’s rental property; alleged gunman.
- Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler – lead prosecutor.
- State Attorney Melissa Nelson – provided the office’s public response.
Timeline
- February 2022 – Bridegan is ambushed after stopping to move a tire left in the road.
- 2023 – Gardner is arrested in Washington state and charged.
- August 2026 – Jury deliberates for roughly 3½ hours and returns a guilty verdict for Fernandez Saldana.
- Early October 2026 – Sentencing hearing scheduled.
- September 2026 – Gardner’s trial set to begin.
- 2027 – Tenon’s trial scheduled after he withdrew an earlier guilty plea.
Data & Statistics
- Financial trail: Three checks totaling $10,000 were written by Fernandez Saldana to Tenon after the homicide, labeled as payments for landscaping, roof work, and a non-existent Kickstarter project.
- Forensic evidence: Tenon’s DNA was recovered from the tire placed on the road; no DNA from Fernandez Saldana was found on any tested items.
- Physical impact: Two bullets struck the SUV; the daughter’s car seat was narrowly missed.
Official Statements & Responses
State Attorney Melissa Nelson called the killing “calculated, deliberate and devastating,” noting that while no sentence can restore what was taken, the verdict provides accountability. Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler emphasized that the motive stemmed from the prolonged custody conflict, stating that the defendants sought to “fix” the situation by eliminating Bridegan. Both attorneys highlighted the role of the financial payments and Tenon’s DNA as central to the prosecution’s case.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The defense argued that the $10,000 checks represented legitimate work performed at Fernandez Saldana’s property and that there was no direct evidence linking him to the shooting itself. Prosecutors acknowledged the absence of Fernandez Saldana’s DNA at the scene, leaving open the question of his physical presence during the ambush. The jury’s verdict indicates that the circumstantial evidence—phone activity, the checks, and Tenon’s connection to Fernandez Saldana—was sufficient for conviction.
What’s Next
Fernandez Saldana will return to court in early October for sentencing, where Florida law mandates life imprisonment without parole for a first-degree murder conviction. Gardner’s trial is slated for September, and Tenon is expected to face trial in 2027 after withdrawing a prior guilty plea.
