Mario Fernandez Saldana convicted in Microsoft executive murder

A Florida jury has convicted Mario Fernandez Saldana of first-degree murder and solicitation in connection with the 2022 killing of Microsoft design manager Jared Bridegan. The verdict follows a trial regarding an alleged murder-for-hire scheme.

Prosecutors argued that the killing was orchestrated due to a bitter, long-standing child custody dispute between Bridegan and his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner. The prosecution alleged that Fernandez Saldana, who is married to Gardner, arranged for Henry Tenon to carry out the ambush. Tenon, a former tenant of Fernandez Saldana, was identified through DNA found on a tire that had been intentionally placed in the road to force Bridegan to stop.

Evidence presented during the trial included three checks totaling $10,000 paid to Tenon after the homicide, which were characterized by prosecutors as payments for the crime. While the murder weapon was never recovered, the jury reached a verdict after nearly four hours of deliberation. Shanna Gardner is scheduled to stand trial separately in September.