Mario Fernandez Saldana Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana takes notes during the jury selection for his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Twelve jurors were sworn in Thursday afternoon in the first trial connected to the murder of St. Johns County father of four Jared Bridegan.
Four alternates were also selected in the trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana.
Action News Jax told you when jury selection began Monday that the court planned to vet 250 potential jurors to serve.
“Two-hundred and fifty people is significant. Ordinarily, it’d be 50. So 200 beyond that are potential for the jury panel. So she’s making absolutely certain, the judge is making absolutely sure that there’s no unfair bias against the defendant or against the prosecution,” Action News Jax Legal Analyst Dale Carson said.
How we got here
Fernandez Saldana, the estranged husband of Bridegan’s ex-wife Shanna Gardner, is accused of hiring Henry Tenon to shoot and kill Bridegan on Feb. 16, 2022 in Jacksonville Beach.
Jared Bridegan Jared Bridegan (Jacksonville Beach Police Department/Jacksonville Beach Police Department)
Bridegan had just dropped off his twins, who he shares with Gardner, when he was driving down Sanctuary Boulevard. A tire was placed in the road and when Bridegan got out to move the tire, he was shot while his then-2-year-old daughter Bexley was in the car.
Gardner and Tenon are also charged in Bridegan’s murder.
What’s next
The jury will return to court Monday, Aug. 17 to hear opening statements in the trial.
Kite said the jurors will have sequestered lunches together, but will be allowed to go home each evening and are not allowed to discuss the trial with anyone.
According to the schedule laid out by Kite, the trial of Fernandez Saldana should wrap up by late August.
Then, Gardner’s trial is scheduled begin with jury selection on Monday, Aug. 31. Tenon, who initially pleaded guilty and then withdrew that plea, is set to go to trial in March.
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, center, fixes his tie and collar while talking with one of his defense attorneys Jesse Dreicer, right, before the start of jury selection in Saldana’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, center, fixes his tie and collar while talking with one of his defense attorneys Jesse Dreicer, right, before the start of jury selection in Saldana’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, left, talks with his Defense Attorney James Hill, before the start of jury selection in his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Judge London Kite explains things to potential jurors during the jury selection in the murder trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana, Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, center, smiles while fixing’s tie and collar while talking with one of his defense attorneys Jesse Dreicer, right, before the start of jury selection in Saldana’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. Mario Fernandez Saldana is charged with first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony in the 2022 murder of his wife's ex-husband, Jared Bridegan, in Jacksonville Beach. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, left, talks with his Defense Attorney James Hill, before the start of jury selection in his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana listens as Judge London Kite reads instructions to potential jurors during his murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Judge London Kite explains things to potential jurors during the jury selection in the murder trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana, Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, left, points to his chair before the start of jury selection in Saldana’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defense Attorney James Hill, left, Assistant State Attorneys Alan Mizrahi and Christina Stifler and Defense Attorney Jesse Dreicer hold a bench conference in Judge London Kite’s courtroom, Monday August 10, 2026 during the jury selection in Mario Fernandez Saldana’s first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony trial at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defense Attorneys James Hill, left and Jesse Dreicer, right, whisper during jury selection in their client’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Assistant State Attorneys Christina Stifler, left and Alan Mizrahi, right, listen as Judge London Kite reads instructions to potential jurors during Mario Fernandez Saldana’s murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana listens as Judge London Kite reads instructions to potential jurors during his murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Assistant State Attorney Steve Siegel watches as potential jurors file into Judge London Kite’s courtroom, Monday August 10, 2026 during the jury selection in Mario Fernandez Saldana’s first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony trial at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defense attorney Jesse Dreicer, left, checks his defendant’s suit as Mario Fernandez Saldana, center, fixes his tie before the start of jury selection in his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. as his co-defense attorney James Hill, right, waits. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, left, talks with his Defense Attorney Jesse Dreicer, right, before the start of jury selection in his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana listens as Judge London Kite reads instructions to potential jurors during his murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana folds his hands showing his two tattooed rings while listening to Judge London Kite as she read instructions to potential jurors during his murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
Mario Fernandez Saldana jury selection Defense Attorney James Hill, left, Assistant State Attorneys Alan Mizrahi and Christina Stifler and Defense Attorney Jesse Dreicer hold a bench conference in Judge London Kite’s courtroom, Monday August 10, 2026 during the jury selection in Mario Fernandez Saldana’s first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony trial at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)
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![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, center, fixes his tie and collar while talking with one of his defense attorneys Jesse Dreicer, right, before the start of jury selection in Saldana’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WCDJ64KM7VFSDODIFD5FCGUOFI.JPG?auth=48a09c04cbafffc34db6a16948e5b4a2c57703e056ce66fdc5bf3495b026e7b0&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, center, fixes his tie and collar while talking with one of his defense attorneys Jesse Dreicer, right, before the start of jury selection in Saldana’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E3QYM3KNQBBVLLTJKJ3ZSXOOPI.JPG?auth=21bcc2bfa05a61ff2b40a6c161426a6ad2ee3f98c4eccfb3d85b163f6f8daf54&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, left, talks with his Defense Attorney James Hill, before the start of jury selection in his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I7T5D56RG5DG7ETMMJASQ4KFBY.JPG?auth=0aee79421bc3d4cee3e13f0c5dcb1c96f69b10240b94cc71c8f2732a25698305&width=800&height=532)
![Judge London Kite explains things to potential jurors during the jury selection in the murder trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana, Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LYPNWZEMUFBOHFUR3VOL52277M.JPG?auth=6b42fb9fe499d6be1cb476fd701ada9dab2700ca8898c82dc717c32e7f8352d7&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, center, smiles while fixing’s tie and collar while talking with one of his defense attorneys Jesse Dreicer, right, before the start of jury selection in Saldana’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. Mario Fernandez Saldana is charged with first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony in the 2022 murder of his wife's ex-husband, Jared Bridegan, in Jacksonville Beach. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2ELWDMOZABFD7KQ4DQDBUSTLF4.JPG?auth=b828a6fe6d32ca43a4c3040dbdacfbecde3ed62c92d6699aeb9da2627c933b44&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, left, talks with his Defense Attorney James Hill, before the start of jury selection in his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SBNCH3XRSRCJBLHJF73JOXUDB4.JPG?auth=ae0d00eef238321e8ed952f2062f810df72bbd5d888542a8630c56c9616d14d5&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana listens as Judge London Kite reads instructions to potential jurors during his murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVSWMNFFFNG5HKD4ARGK53ZBXA.JPG?auth=327ea7415e1519f6ddcce396407be382ef4a150c2c92bea25ce3db0f13f9e261&width=800&height=532)
![Judge London Kite explains things to potential jurors during the jury selection in the murder trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana, Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SH4XPVJHFVCNXHUWMZ76DYBS5A.JPG?auth=e9889801a1c69f77ab1c966acff3d172c2c6cf5660ec04411640c206a7067bcd&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, left, points to his chair before the start of jury selection in Saldana’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IQY43MVHNZGW3NJXJDYSQ2ZVLI.JPG?auth=325164e367193325b6a7bbbb7e0b631e21d475d5a9ff9d9d8b465241b588c71c&width=800&height=1202)
![Defense Attorney James Hill, left, Assistant State Attorneys Alan Mizrahi and Christina Stifler and Defense Attorney Jesse Dreicer hold a bench conference in Judge London Kite’s courtroom, Monday August 10, 2026 during the jury selection in Mario Fernandez Saldana’s first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony trial at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PRVNSNSO6ZGBNBDFHDR3WATOCQ.JPG?auth=c7a4c341d29eca946dc7e5a4627d375dd845af01b71d7f9f1982871d9f5cfa77&width=800&height=532)
![Defense Attorneys James Hill, left and Jesse Dreicer, right, whisper during jury selection in their client’s murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YXBQPCZPI5BRHLZGZASVSTVXIY.JPG?auth=aea78809ad5f10099200c9791c819a7e5cf57916ce692b60c60447a87f93a0a1&width=800&height=532)
![Assistant State Attorneys Christina Stifler, left and Alan Mizrahi, right, listen as Judge London Kite reads instructions to potential jurors during Mario Fernandez Saldana’s murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UGAMDQQE7ZDIHDBCV43CPLDAIE.JPG?auth=17205c451b8c72202e78e63a9b4f393a30a95aab9eba695c16611e21acc01878&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana listens as Judge London Kite reads instructions to potential jurors during his murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P7GJVMS2UJEE7K5TNJJBHYGBJY.JPG?auth=27193bb49133afdbeef5dcd1a23bda3299fc766507529c4a87954812e9407e9a&width=800&height=1202)
![Assistant State Attorney Steve Siegel watches as potential jurors file into Judge London Kite’s courtroom, Monday August 10, 2026 during the jury selection in Mario Fernandez Saldana’s first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony trial at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IMPZVHA73RHHHBIMPWAJ5HPIEQ.JPG?auth=ffd6d7d8dcbe6f9309d308acdb4c6dd724cbc84544c44fad294b37e86bb32b5a&width=800&height=532)
![Defense attorney Jesse Dreicer, left, checks his defendant’s suit as Mario Fernandez Saldana, center, fixes his tie before the start of jury selection in his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. as his co-defense attorney James Hill, right, waits. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ND7SVJSZAJF73DUNXJRLRYLU5M.JPG?auth=b6d5442d707556b4aa7af2cbe2a6acc53ff1853a42bd2dc867568ea47d64002a&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana, left, talks with his Defense Attorney Jesse Dreicer, right, before the start of jury selection in his murder trial Monday morning, August 10, 2026 in the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KQN76DTQZFB4NNH7FRUSCF4BRU.JPG?auth=2bc78e694fadcbb776ca07ba4d2c547fe4a12d28a770b334f8e54d0844102e6d&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana listens as Judge London Kite reads instructions to potential jurors during his murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZCB56DYIVBCFNPDXWPB4HMLEJ4.JPG?auth=411606e2462a50024f8652e070929cd5fbdb0f50903d9b2abbf2c65c8a44969b&width=800&height=532)
![Defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana folds his hands showing his two tattooed rings while listening to Judge London Kite as she read instructions to potential jurors during his murder trial Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4YECBUMEWRA4TLA5XZUK7VRCOU.JPG?auth=99ae47e24eea85708f465ddb07a447b91ebcc72472a2f610ccfcec32ddea985e&width=800&height=532)
![Defense Attorney James Hill, left, Assistant State Attorneys Alan Mizrahi and Christina Stifler and Defense Attorney Jesse Dreicer hold a bench conference in Judge London Kite’s courtroom, Monday August 10, 2026 during the jury selection in Mario Fernandez Saldana’s first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony trial at the Duval County Court House in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://cmg-cmg-rd-20056-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JAKUWOPIABHG5NFWFVOTUUFIHY.JPG?auth=5748b61c71f9eebaf40f3d35157fa2a275251d6b6c9ff0bf98be2fdd27d8d3fd&width=800&height=532)
