JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A couple in Jacksonville, Florida, is facing charges in the death of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan. Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana are accused of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and child abuse in connection with Bridegan’s death on February 16, 2022.
The victim, Jared Bridegan, was shot and killed after dropping off his two older children at Gardner’s home. Gardner and Bridegan shared custody of the children following their divorce. Both had remarried, and Bridegan had a young child with his second wife, Kirsten Bridegan, who was present in the car at the time of the shooting.
According to investigative reports, witnesses saw Bridegan’s body lying in the road. Police believe he was lured out of his car by a tire placed in the road, and he was shot and killed when he got out to investigate. Kirsten Bridegan told officers that the victim’s relationship with Gardner ended after she had an affair with a personal trainer. She expressed her belief that the only individuals with ill will towards her husband were Shanna and Mario.
In interviews with police, Gardner suggested that Jared Bridegan had “ulterior motives” in his first marriage and hinted that his second wife, Kirsten, may have been involved in his death. Fernandez Saldana, Gardner’s husband, admitted to being “really out of it” after taking medication the night of the murder and expressed his frustration with the situation.
The couple is also linked to a third man, Henry Tenon, who pleaded guilty to Bridegan’s murder. Banking records show payments made to Tenon by a business owned by Gardner and Fernandez Saldana. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for both Gardner and Fernandez Saldana.
The couple is expected to appear in court for their trial on Wednesday, February 7. If convicted, they could face severe consequences for their alleged involvement in Jared Bridegan’s death.