JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Monday at 9 a.m., opening statements are expected to begin in the first trial related to the killing of St. Johns County father of four, Jared Bridegan.
The first suspect on trial is Mario Fernandez Saldana, who is the estranged husband of Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
Last week, lawyers finished the work of screening the jury pool for Fernandez Saldana’s trial.
The final panel includes twelve jurors and four alternates.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Fernandez Saldana is accused of hiring the hitman who killed Bridegan.
On Monday morning, check back in this story for LIVE updates as the trial begins. You’ll also be able to watch the trial by streaming it on the Action News Jax website (click on the link below), mobile and connected TV apps, and on our YouTube channel.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
The killing of Jared Bridegan
Jared Bridegan, a St. Johns County father of four, was gunned down Feb. 16, 2022, in Jacksonville Beach. He had just taken his twins, Abby and Liam, whom he shared with ex-wife Shanna Gardner, and his then-2-year-old Bexley, his daughter with wife Kirsten Bridegan, to dinner.
The software engineer had just dropped off the twins at Gardner’s house when he encountered a tire on Sanctuary Boulevard, a one-way road in Jacksonville Beach. He was headed home to his second wife, Kirsten Bridegan, with whom he shared children Bexley and London.
Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said during the announcement of the first arrest in January 2023, that “the tire was purposely placed there to make him stop, which he did.”
“Tragically he began to exit his vehicle to move the tire and he was gunned down in cold blood,” Smith said. Bridegan was shot several times while Bexley was still strapped into a car seat in the back seat of Bridegan’s car.
The suspects
Mario Fernandez Saldana, Gardner’s estranged husband, was arrested in March 2023 on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, child abuse, and solicitation to commit a capital felony. He’s accused of hiring Henry Tenon to kill Jared Bridegan.
In July 2026, two of the charges Fernandez Saldana was facing, child abuse and conspiracy to commit murder, were dropped. He has pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges he’s facing. His trial begins Aug. 10, 2026 with jury selection.
Henry Tenon’s arrest in connection to Bridegan’s murder was announced in January 2023. He was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after the fact to a capital felony, child abuse, and second-degree murder. He’s accused of shooting and killing Jared Bridegan.
Tenon, who rented a home from Fernandez Saldana, initially agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder. In February 2026, Tenon decided to withdraw his guilty plea. He is now set to go to trial in March 2027.
Shanna Gardner was arrested in August 2023 in Washington and is facing charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder, and child abuse. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Gardner’s trial is set to take place after her estranged husband’s trial concludes. Jury selection for her trial is set to begin Aug. 31, 2026.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps,click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
