A Florida jury has found Mario Fernandez Saldana guilty of murdering Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan in an ambush that took place in 2022. The verdict, announced on a Wednesday, convicted Fernandez Saldana of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony.
Investigations revealed that Bridegan, 33, was shot and killed at close range in February 2022 in Jacksonville Beach. The attack happened when he stopped his car to remove a tire placed in the middle of a dark road. Tragically, his 2-year-old daughter was present in the back seat during the shooting but was unharmed.
Prosecutors claimed the incident was a premeditated act orchestrated due to a bitter custody dispute involving Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, and her husband, Fernandez Saldana. According to the prosecution, the couple allegedly hired Henry Tenon to carry out the killing. Initially, Tenon pleaded guilty but later retracted his plea.
Fernandez Saldana was apprehended in March 2023, with Gardner’s arrest following in August. Both have been indicted on charges related to Bridegan’s murder. The court decided they would face separate trials with different juries.