The widow of slain Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan testified at the Florida trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana, who is accused of helping plan and finance the 2022 killing. Kirsten Bridegan told jurors that her husband went silent during their final phone call shortly before he was ambushed in Jacksonville Beach. Prosecutors also presented surveillance footage and audio they say show vehicles and a suspected gunman near the crime scene.
Fernandez Saldana has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys argue that prosecutors cannot prove he solicited or intended Bridegan’s death, and they say payments to alleged gunman Henry Tenon were for work rather than a murder plot.
| 1) | Widow recounts the final call |
| 2) | Prosecutors describe the roadside ambush |
| 3) | Custody conflict forms alleged motive |
| 4) | Case history includes three arrests |
| 5) | Separate trials are scheduled |
Widow recounts the final call
Kirsten Bridegan testified Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Duval County, Florida, as Fernandez Saldana’s murder trial began. She described a long-standing Wednesday routine in which Jared Bridegan took his twins and their daughter, Bexley Bridegan, to dinner before returning the twins to their mother’s home.
After the drop-off, Kirsten spoke with her husband by phone. She said Bexley excitedly told her about getting ice cream, but the conversation became unusually quiet before it ended.
“It was strange. I remember feeling like it was strange because after I was like, ‘All right, well, love you, I’ll see you soon.’ He was just quiet,” Kirsten testified.
When Bridegan did not come home, Kirsten called him repeatedly and drove toward Jacksonville Beach with her mother. She said an officer answered his phone and directed her to a police station, where officers later told her he had been shot and killed.
Prosecutors describe the roadside ambush
Prosecutors allege that Bridegan was killed on Feb. 16, 2022, after stopping on a dark, secluded Jacksonville Beach road to move a tire placed in the roadway. Authorities say he was repeatedly shot while Bexley, then 2, remained strapped into the Volkswagen Atlas. A passerby removed the child from the vehicle about three minutes later.
On Tuesday, Aug. 18, jurors watched Nest and Ring surveillance footage that prosecutors said traced Bridegan’s black Volkswagen Atlas and a blue two-tone truck through South Jacksonville Beach shortly before the shooting. A Jacksonville Beach corporal testified that the truck was recorded near Ocean Cay and Builders Choice at about 6:50 p.m., although the license plate could not be identified.
Another camera showed a person prosecutors identified as Tenon walking and then running away from the area. Audio from nearby cameras captured gunfire, prosecutors said.
Custody conflict forms alleged motive
Kirsten Bridegan described a deeply fractured co-parenting relationship involving Bridegan, his former wife Shanna Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez Saldana. She said the families communicated almost entirely through text messages and email because “there’s absolutely no trust.”
The disputes involved parenting time, medical expenses, schooling and religious decisions for the twins. Prosecutors say the years-long conflict created the motive for a murder-for-hire plot, alleging that Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez Saldana helped arrange and finance the killing.
A recorded interview shown to jurors included Fernandez Saldana suggesting that Bridegan might have been killed over money. He also discussed Gardner-Fernandez’s anger at a school’s notification to parents about the death and the continuing hostility over co-parenting and control of the children.
Case history includes three arrests
Tenon was arrested on Jan. 25, 2023, and prosecutors later identified him as the alleged gunman. Investigators said Fernandez Saldana had rented a home to Tenon and hired him for work at rental properties. Tenon initially pleaded guilty in March 2023 and agreed to cooperate, but later withdrew that plea and agreement.
Fernandez Saldana was arrested in Orlando on March 16, 2023. He faces first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony. Prosecutors have cited checks allegedly written to Tenon and phone records showing repeated communication around the killing.
Gardner-Fernandez was arrested on Oct. 20, 2023, and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and child endangerment. She has denied the allegations. The defendants are accused of different roles in the alleged plot, and each remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Separate trials are scheduled
Judge London Kite ordered separate trials in April 2026 after Tenon withdrew his cooperation agreement. Jury selection for Fernandez Saldana’s trial took place Aug. 10-14, and opening proceedings began Aug. 17 in Jacksonville.
The defense maintains that no physical or forensic evidence places Fernandez Saldana at the scene and that the state cannot establish he intended Bridegan’s death. Gardner-Fernandez’s jury selection is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, with her trial scheduled for Sept. 8-25. Tenon’s jury selection is scheduled for March 29, 2027.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kirsten Bridegan testified about her husband’s final phone call. |
| 2 | Prosecutors allege Fernandez Saldana helped plan and finance the killing. |
| 3 | Surveillance footage showed vehicles and a suspected fleeing figure near the scene. |
| 4 | Defense attorneys dispute the alleged intent and evidence against their client. |
| 5 | The related prosecutions will proceed in separate trials. |
Summary
The trial centers on whether Mario Fernandez Saldana helped arrange the killing of Jared Bridegan amid a bitter custody dispute. Testimony from the victim’s widow and surveillance evidence have outlined the final moments before the ambush, while the defense contests the prosecution’s interpretation of payments, communications and motive. The outcome will determine the next stage of a case involving three defendants and separate proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is on trial?
Mario Fernandez Saldana is on trial in Florida on charges including first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony. He has pleaded not guilty.
What evidence did jurors see?
Jurors saw surveillance footage of vehicles near the Jacksonville Beach area, video of a figure prosecutors identified as Henry Tenon leaving the scene and audio that captured gunfire. They also heard testimony about phone records and payments.
What happens next in the related cases?
Jury selection for Shanna Gardner-Fernandez is scheduled for Aug. 31, 2026, with her trial scheduled to begin Sept. 8. Tenon’s jury selection is scheduled for March 29, 2027.
