Florida murder trial begins for man accused of plotting Microsoft manager’s 2022 ambush

A Duval County court will try Mario Fernandez Saldana on a first-degree murder charge for his role in the 2022 killing of Microsoft design manager Jared Bridegan. Investigators allege that Saldana, married to Bridegan’s ex-wife Shanna Gardner, participated in a murder-for-hire scheme that involved placing a tire on the road to lure Bridegan into an ambush. The attack happened in Jacksonville Beach as Bridegan was returning from dropping off his 9-year-old twins and was driving with a toddler from his marriage to Kirsten Bridegan.

Henry Tenon, identified as the gunman, had earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder but withdrew that plea and will face his own trial in 2027; he is said to have received at least $10,000 from Gardner and Saldana. Judge London Kite summarized evidence that Gardner harbored intense animosity toward her former husband and wanted him dead. Bridegan, who previously served as CTO of Clean Simple Eats before joining Microsoft, was repeatedly shot while his child was strapped in a car seat. The case proceeds more than four years after the fatal shooting.