Jury begins deliberations in the alleged murder-for-hire killing of a Microsoft manager in Florida

Healfromzero.com – Jury begins deliberations in the alleged murder-for-hire killing of a Microsoft design manager in Florida. A Jacksonville Beach jury started weighing its verdict Wednesday in the case of Jared Bridegan, who was shot four years ago after stepping out of his SUV to clear a tire from the roadway. Prosecutors allege the killing was orchestrated by Bridegan’s wealthy ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, and her then-husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, over a bitter joint-custody dispute involving their twin children. The attack stumped local police for months, who struggled to understand why a man with no apparent enemies would be gunned down while his daughter sat nearby in her car seat.

The Prosecution’s Case: A Months-Long Plot

Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler painted a vivid picture during closing arguments, describing a man caught completely off guard on a cold February evening in 2022. “He was unarmed, unaware, exposed, vulnerable. He couldn’t have known, on that cold asphalt in February of 2022, the architects of his murder had been making preparations for his death for months,” Stifler told the jury. Bridegan had just returned their twin children to Gardner’s home after a date-night meal when he stopped his Volkswagen Atlas to remove the tire deliberately placed in the road. He was shot twice.

“He certainly gained no benefit from the death of Jared Bridegan,” defense attorney Jesse Dreicer told jurors, arguing that Fernandez Saldana had no motive and no testimony showed him ever saying Bridegan “deserves to die.”

Defense Arguments and the Role of Henry Tenon

Mario Fernandez Saldana, 38, faces charges of first-degree murder and solicitation of murder. His trial concluded Wednesday as the jury retired to deliberate. Defense attorney Jesse Dreicer argued that Fernandez Saldana had no reason to want Bridegan dead and that no witness testified he ever expressed a wish for the manager’s death. Gardner, now 39, is set to face her own trial beginning in September. The two are estranged, with Gardner having relocated to Washington state after the killing.

The alleged gunman, Henry Tenon, 65, had no personal connection to Bridegan but was a former tenant at a rental property owned by Fernandez Saldana in Jacksonville. Jurors examined three checks totaling $10,000 written to Tenon after the homicide, marked as payments for handyman work and a business idea. Tenon’s DNA was identified on the rim of the tire that had been intentionally placed in the road, according to police. Tenon initially pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Fernandez Saldana but later backed out of the deal and will stand trial next year.

Gardner is the daughter of the co-founder of Stampin’ Up!, an arts-and-crafts company based in Utah. At the time of his death, Bridegan was married to Kirsten Bridegan, with whom he had two children. Kirsten Bridegan told the jury that the post-divorce relationship between her husband and Gardner was “pretty terrible,” adding there was “absolutely no trust” between the two families. As the jury begins deliberations in the alleged conspiracy case, the outcome will determine whether prosecutors’ months-long investigation culminates in a conviction or whether the defense’s narrative of coincidence prevails.

Frequently Asked Questions

What charges does Mario Fernandez Saldana face?

Fernandez Saldana is charged with first-degree murder and solicitation of murder in connection with the February 2022 shooting of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

When will Shanna Gardner’s trial begin?

Gardner’s trial is scheduled to start in September 2026, following the conclusion of Fernandez Saldana’s case.

What evidence links Henry Tenon to the crime scene?

Police identified Tenon’s DNA on the rim of the tire that was deliberately placed in the road. Additionally, three checks totaling $10,000 were written to Tenon after the homicide, labeled as payments for handyman work and a business idea.

What was the alleged motive for the killing?

Prosecutors allege the motive was a longstanding joint-custody dispute and parenting disagreements between Bridegan and Gardner over their twin children, which had created deep animosity between the two families.