JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Mario Fernandez Saldana has been sentenced to life in Florida state prison for his role in the 2022 murder-for-hire killing of Jared Bridegan, a 33-year-old Microsoft executive who was gunned down after dropping off his children at his ex-wife’s home in Jacksonville Beach.
Fernandez Saldana received a life sentence for first-degree murder, along with 30 years in prison for solicitation to commit a capital felony. The sentences will run concurrently, according to the Jacksonville Beach Police Department.
A Duval County jury convicted Fernandez Saldana of both charges on August 26, 2026.
The sentencing marks a major development in a case that has drawn widespread attention since Bridegan was killed on February 16, 2022.
Jared Bridegan Was Shot After Stopping to Move Tire From Road
Bridegan, a senior design manager at Microsoft and father of four, was returning home after dropping off his 9-year-old twins at the home of his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, in Jacksonville Beach.
His 2-year-old daughter was riding in the back seat of his Volkswagen Atlas.
As Bridegan traveled between Jacksonville Drive and Sanctuary Boulevard, he encountered a tire blocking the roadway.
He stopped his vehicle and got out to move the tire.
That’s when he was shot multiple times and killed.
His young daughter remained inside the vehicle during the shooting. Some of the bullets passed through the SUV, narrowly missing her.
Jacksonville Beach police responded to reports of gunfire around 8 p.m. and discovered Bridegan’s body beside his vehicle.
Investigators determined that the killing had been planned in advance.
Three People Arrested in Murder-for-Hire Investigation
The investigation eventually led to the arrests of three people: Henry Tenon, Mario Fernandez Saldana and Shanna Gardner, Bridegan’s ex-wife.
Henry Tenon was arrested in January 2023 after investigators connected him to a blue Ford F-150 pickup truck associated with the killing.
Tenon later admitted he was the gunman and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
He received a 15-year prison sentence and agreed to testify in the case.
Investigators also uncovered financial transactions involving Tenon, including three checks totaling $10,000 that were deposited into his bank accounts after the killing.
Mario Fernandez Saldana, who was married to Gardner, was arrested in Orange County, Florida, in March 2023.
A grand jury indicted him on charges that included first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse.
In August 2023, authorities arrested Shanna Gardner, who was indicted on the same charges.
Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty against Fernandez Saldana and Gardner but agreed in November 2025 to remove capital punishment as a possible sentence, with support from Bridegan’s widow and family.
Jacksonville Beach Police Call Sentencing a Step Toward Justice
Following Fernandez Saldana’s sentencing, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department praised the officers and investigators who spent years working on the case.
The department described the sentencing as the first of three important steps toward justice for Bridegan and his family, referring to the three defendants connected to the killing.
Investigators also credited cooperation among law enforcement agencies for helping move the case forward.
The department acknowledged that the sentence cannot undo the loss suffered by Bridegan’s family and reiterated its commitment to holding those responsible accountable.
Gardner, who previously pleaded not guilty, faces separate criminal proceedings in connection with Bridegan’s death.