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Trial Begins in Florida for Man Accused in 2022 Killing of Microsoft Executive
Just the facts
Thirty-eight-year-old Mario Fernandez Saldana is on trial in Jacksonville, Florida, for first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in the February 2022 death of 33-year-old Microsoft design manager Jared Bridegan. Prosecutors allege that Fernandez Saldana hired a gunman, Henry Tenon, to shoot Bridegan after Bridegan stopped his vehicle to remove a tire placed in the roadway while his two-year-old daughter was inside the car. Investigators linked Fernandez Saldana to the crime after discovering DNA on a tire at a rental property he owned and finding financial records showing a $10,000 payment to Tenon. Bridegan's ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, who subsequently married Fernandez Saldana, was charged in 2023 with first-degree murder and child abuse, with her trial set for September 2026.
Why this is news
Jury selection and opening statements commenced on August 17, 2026, in Duval County court in the murder trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana. Assistant State Attorney Christina Simak Stifler presented the opening argument for the prosecution.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.