JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The third day of testimony in the first trial related to the killing of St. Johns County father of four, Jared Bridegan, is scheduled to begin Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Opening statements and witness testimonies began Monday morning. Tuesday saw testimony from detectives involved in the case as well as surveillance footage and a filmed interview of Mario Fernandez Saldana.
The first suspect on trial is Mario Fernandez Saldana, who is the estranged husband of Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner.
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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.
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Fernandez Saldana is accused of hiring the hitman who killed Bridegan.
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.
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4:58 p.m.: We won’t sequester the jury but they will be admonished to not break the communication rules.
4:57 p.m.: Dreicer said the defense agrees with the state that under these circumstances that the jury does not need to be sequestered if deliberations go into the late hour. Fernandez Saldana said he also agrees.
4:55 p.m.: Fernandez Saldana is sworn in. Asks if he has any questions about the sequestration process.
4:54 p.m.: If the jury was to be sequestered, on the day the jurors deliberate, Judge Kite said their bags would be searched for possible contraband, like crime novels. The hotel would prepare individual rooms, the TV would be removed, the phone would be removed. They would be guarded by police and have no outside contact until they came back to the court to be together. They can only deliberate when they are together in a room.
4:50 p.m.: Judge Kite said she would have to enter an order to sequester the jury for deliberation purposes. She is asking attorneys when they believe testimony would be finished.
4:49 p.m.: Fernandez Saldana’s attorneys say they need a moment with their client.
4:48 p.m.: Fahrig again said there is no support for Fernandez Saldana as a possible contributor. Judge Kite dismisses the jury for the day.
4:46 p.m.: Cross examination of Fahrig begins by Attorney Hill.
4:42 p.m.: Fahrig said there was support for inclusion for Tenon as a possible contributor on some items that were tested.
4:41 p.m.: Mizrahi asks if DNA could be transferred off of shell casings when Bridegan is being moved around during CPR. Fahrig said what Mizrahi is describing is what is referred to is activity.
4:37 p.m.: Mizrahi shows Fahrig the blood spot card of Bridegan. Fahrig said he may not always do all the work in the case himself. He said he is responsible for the analysis for the data and reporting. He said it is not an example he received himself, but sees the initials of the lab specialist who processed the item.
4:34 p.m.: Mizrahi brings up shell casings 3 and 4. Those items are two 10 mm cartridge cases, Fahrig said. There was a profile obtained consistent with a male profile, Fahrig said and there was support for inclusion of Jared Bridegan as a contributor.
4:33 p.m.: Mizrahi asked Fahrig if during the course of his comparison, did he find any of Fernandez Saldana’s DNA on what he tested. Of the unknown profiles that had components, there was no support for inclusion as a contributor for Fernandez Saldana or Gardner, Fahrig said.
4:29 p.m.: DNA profile might not be suitable for comparison, or not suitable for comparison, Fahrig said.
4:26 p.m.: Fahrig said a variety of factors can determine whether DNA is damaged. Things like heat, moisture, mold, or bacteria can influence the ability to get samples.
4:22 p.m.: Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi is questioning Fahrig. Mizrahi asks Fahrig to explain the importance of DNA.
4:21 p.m.: Glenn Fahrig, a forensic biologist working for the ATF, is called by the state.
4:19 p.m.: Judge Kite tells the jury that the state is calling its final witness of the day and Johns will resume his testimony at 9 a.m.
4:17 p.m.: Judge Kite tells Johns that his cross examination will resume Thursday at 9 a.m. as the state is going to call another witness.
4:06 p.m.: Stifler asked Quiroz if the conversation to invite Fernandez Saldana happened when he was already in Clinton. Quiroz said possibly and Stifler said it was another conversation he didn’t remember.
4:03 p.m.: Quiroz said if he had any suspicion of anything happening, he wouldn’t have invited him to his home. Quiroz said they went to Ruby Tuesday’s when Fernandez Saldana came to visit and was, “just one of the dudes.”
4:02 p.m.: Cross examination begins by Defense Attorney Hill. Quiroz said he wouldn’t consider Fernandez Saldana a stranger.
4 p.m.: Quiroz said Fernandez Saldana said something along the lines of that Bridegan had been shot. Quiroz said Fernandez Saldana did not discuss Bridegan’s murder when he visited in March.
3:57 p.m.: Defense Attorney James Hill asks to approach the bench with the court reporter.
3:56 p.m.: Quiroz said Fernandez Saldana said when he visited North Carolina was that he was going up north to see a friend.
3:54 p.m.: Quiroz said he just got the deposition last night and he didn’t get a chance to review it very well. He said he now recalls that Fernandez Saldana gave him and another friend a heads up that he would be in the area.
3:51 p.m.: Fernandez Saldana gave Quiroz, who lived in Clinton, North Carolina, a heads up that he was headed up north and Quiroz said he would give him a place to spend the night. Quiroz said he has previously given a deposition in the case.
3:49 p.m.: Quiroz said Fernandez Saldana would stay in contact through text through Facebook Messenger.
3:48 p.m.: Quiroz said he did not meet Fernandez Saldana in person until March 2022. Played games like Destiny, Apex.
3:46 p.m.: The state calls Victor Quiroz. He said he met Fernandez Saldana around 2010 through a high school friend, playing video games online.
3:44 p.m.: On redirect, Kutis told Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler that the word contract stood out to her; a contract with Gardner’s family.
3:43 p.m.: Testimony resumes. Dreicer asks Kudis if she had ever thought to contact law enforcement in her conversations with Fernandez Saldana leading up to Bridegan’s death. She said no.
3:38 p.m.: Attorneys have sidebar with Judge Kite.
3:37 p.m.: When law enforcement came to her house in North Carolina, Kutis learned Fernandez Saldana was a suspect.
3:36 p.m.: Dreicer said law enforcement contacted Kutis, but she never contacted law enforcement. She said that was correct.
3:35 p.m.: All he said is “they think it was a hit and run,” Kutis said of what Fernandez Saldana told her about Bridegan’s death.
3:33 p.m.: Kutis said Fernandez Saldana would talk about a contract with Gardner’s family, but didn’t recall if she asked him about specifics.
3:32 p.m.: Dreicer said Kutis would consider Fernandez Saldana as a trusted resource and she agreed.
3:31 p.m.: Kutis said she knew Fernandez Saldana was married for years. Kutis said the two would talk about co-parenting issues.
3:29 p.m.: Kutis said she and Fernandez Saldana had a fling, guess it would have been in that specific time frame when they met, between 2013 to 2015.
3:29 p.m.: Dreicer begins cross examination of Kutis.
3:28 p.m.: Fernandez Saldana called Kutis after Bridegan was murdered, told her he thought it was a hit-and-run.
3:27 p.m.: Fernandez Saldana mentioned visiting her in person, but they did not Kutis said.
3:26 p.m.: Kutis said she thinks there might have been some underlying tones for Fernandez Saldana to maybe feel her out to see if there was any potential to pursuing a romantic relationship with her.
3:25 p.m.: Kutis said at times, Fernandez Saldana would mention that maybe with his Army experience, he had a special set of skills. He was very vague about the specifics of it, she said.
3:23 p.m.: Kutis said Fernandez Saldana would discuss different drop offs, different situations they were going through with the Bridegans. She said he definitely mentioned that it was high conflict, difficult at times.
3:22 p.m.: Oldest daughter is adopted, is her stepdaughter. When she was communicating in 2021 leading into 2022 with Fernandez Saldana, they talked about things they were going through as being step parents.
3:20 p.m.: Kutis said she kept in touch with him through the years through phone and text. She believes 2015 was the last time she saw him in person.
3:19 p.m.: Met Fernandez Saldana in 2013. Was in ROTC at Vanderbilt University and did leadership training in Kentucky. He was a drill sergeant at the time they had the training.
3:18 p.m.: Kutis said she is a corporate sales trainer and lives in Tennessee. She said her husband is active duty military and she said she knows Fernandez Saldana. Said she is able to see the back of his head.
3:16 p.m.: Testimony and cross examination of Detective Johns has been paused. The state calls Taylor Kutis to the stand. She is on a Zoom call and Judge Kite instructs the jury to accept her testimony as if she were present in the courtroom.
3:14 p.m.: The jury is brought back in.
3:12 p.m.: A Zoom call for a witness is being set up.
3:09 p.m.: Judge Kite said a moment is needed to set up the courtroom for the next portion of the trial and asks the jury to leave their notepads on their chairs.
3:07 p.m.: Pole camera review continues. Fernandez Saldana is seen sweeping the driveway in one of the videos.
2:54 p.m.: Dreicer goes over with Johns a business plan listed out by Tenon in a blue composition notebook. It says, in part, “Name of Business: Tenon Pallet Recycling.”
2:52 p.m.: Dreicer is continuing to review pole camera video from the Potomac house with Johns.
2:40 p.m.: Court resumes with Dreicer’s cross examination of Johns.
2:23 p.m.: Judge Kite said court will take a short break until 2:32 p.m.
2:19 p.m.: Dreicer said this would be a natural point for a break and Judge Kite calls for a sidebar with the attorneys.
2:15 p.m.: Dreicer and Johns talk about that this is the night Biggerstaff and Fernandez Saldana talked about Biggerstaff coming over to do tile work.
2:13 p.m.: Dreicer then pulls up video from Aug. 28, 2022 at the pole camera in front of the Potomac home. Johns affirms that it appears to be Biggerstaff pulling into the driveway.
2:11 p.m.: Dreicer pulls up video from the pole camera in front of the Potomac home from Aug. 27, 2022.
2:04 p.m.: Johns affirms that the white Crown Victoria that Tenon was pulled over driving with a suspended license is seen in the driveway.
2:01 p.m.: Surveillance video from the Potomac house taken on Aug. 16, 2022 is being reviewed.
1:30 p.m.: Dreicer says January 29th fell in the transitionary period between when Tenon was moving out of the Potomac property and Ordway moving in. Therefore, it is not irregular behavior for a landlord to visit their property during such time. Johns agrees.
1:29 p.m. Johns says none of Mario’s DNA was found in the truck.
1:26 p.m.: Dreicer and Johns affirm that no cell phone data or other independent evidence shows that Fernandez was with Tenon during the “dry run”.
1:25 p.m.: Dreicer and Johns affirm that this data collected can be seen as Tenon’s “dry run” before the homicide.
1:23 p.m.: Additional cell phone data shows Henry Tenon went down to Ponte Vedra, near Bridegan’s home, and then to the area Bridegan was killed later that afternoon on January 29th, 2022.
1:18 p.m.: Cell phone data collected by the FBI shows that Tenon and Fernandez were in the same approximate area, at the Potomac property, on January 29th of 2022.
1:15 p.m.: Court resumes.
Watch the video below to see what happened in court on Wednesday morning:
12:00 p.m.: Court is in recess for lunch.
11:55 a.m.: Johns affirms that no person who purchased or sold a Glock 10mm handgun in the area was interviewed due to the fact that detectives did not find any that were associated with a blue F-150 truck.
11:54 a.m.: Dreicer displays a document showing that a Glock 10mm handgun was sold at Beaches Pawn Shop, the only licensed firearm seller in the area. He adds that there were 3 other 10mm Glock handguns sold there a month after the murder - the exact make and model of the murder weapon.
11:50 a.m.: Johns affirms the murder weapon, a 10mm handgun, had never been recovered.
11:49 a.m.: Johns affirms no physical evidence shows Biggerstaff had been in possession of the 10mm handgun after it was surrendered.
11:46 a.m.: Document shows the 10 mm was surrendered with all his other weapons.
11:41 a.m.: Biggerstaff arrested for a federal felony in 2017 and forced to give up firearms.
11:39 a.m.: Biggerstaff bought a 10mm handgun in 2016, legally
11:38 a.m.: Dreicer says there is video of Mario having sex with Mrs. Biggerstaff.
11:37 a.m.: Dreicer and Johns affirm that John Biggerstaff was a “swinger” and enjoyed filming people having sex with his wife.
11:32 a.m.: Dreicer displays a receipt that shows Tenon received a cash advance loan from a local bank days after Bridegan’s murder. Johns affirms that this shows Tenon was short on money.
11:30 a.m.: Dreicer displays the rent agreement between Jeremy Ordway and Mario Fernandez for the Potomac property, effective at the beginning of February 2022. It was agreed that Henry Tenon was no longer renting the Potomac property as of January 2022 because he could not keep up with the rent.
11:26 a.m.: Johns affirms there is no cellular data or physical evidence that links Mario’s location to Henry’s on January 25th.
11:24 a.m.: Dreicer displays slides created by the FBI utilizing cell phone data points which display where Mario’s phone was pinging on January 25, 2022, along with Henry Tenon’s phone.
11:15 a.m.: Court is back in session.
10:54 a.m.: Court is put into recess.
10:53 a.m.: Dreicer asserts that given this, Mario did not say anything in the interview that was not public knowledge relating to the homicide.
10:51 a.m.: Regarding Mario’s interview with Johns, Dreicer says, “Mario said he didn’t know why Jared got out of the car. He never mentioned a tire in the road or any obstruction.” Johns agrees.
10:44 a.m.: Dreicer exhibits the document Shanna’s lawyer sent to the family court alerting the court of Bridegan’s passing and that there had not been any pending family court positions for approximately four months.
10:38 a.m.: Dreicer exhibits a supplemental petition Shanna entered in family court in 2019 after she and Jared remarried. She asked the judge for clarification regarding the rights of the new spouses, Mario and Kirsten, saying that Bridegan insisted Mario “may not exercise overnight timesharing” with the children while Shanna was away, while insisting Kirsten be “fully involved in the children’s lives.” The document petition also says both “new spouses have strong and positive relationships” with the children.
10:29 a.m.: Dreicer exhibits a mutually agreed-upon supplemental petition Shanna entered in 2016 that put a week-on, week-off custody schedule with a Wednesday “date night” into effect for the children to give them “better stability”.
10:26 a.m.: Dreicer exhibits the marriage dissolution document between Shanna and Jared in 2015 that called for a 50:50 custody split.
10:24 a.m.: Johns agrees that the messages were typical of a family group chat, such as school supplies and pick-up and drop-off planning.
10:23 a.m.: Dreicer asks Johns about the family group chat messages that have been put in evidence. The group chat involved Jared, Kirsten, Shanna and Mario.
10:21 a.m.: Dreicer asks whether Johns had read the family law court docket containing the entirety of motions and decisions made in the custody battle. Johns says he recently read it a few months ago.
10:19 a.m.: Dreicer asserts that because Fernandez said he wanted to bend the timesharing “just a little bit” to retain “60:40″ custody, Mario and Shanna were not seeking full custody or control of the children.
10:16 a.m.: Judge Kite resumes trial and allows Dreicer to continue his questioning.
10:10 a.m.: The prosecution objects to the line of questioning. Judge Kite then pauses the trial for a sidebar.
10:09 a.m. Dreicer begins a line of questioning to determine how Johns perceived Mario’s statements about the custody battle during his interview.
10:05 a.m.: Johns confirms that all information Mario voluntarily gave during his interview was able to be verified.
10:00 a.m.: Dreicer asks how Johns and other detectives were able to confirm the information Mario gave during his interview, such as the phone call Bridegan took during the night he was killed, the confrontation between Bridegan and his Bishop, and the issues the Bridegans had with their children’s schooling and therapy.
9:55 a.m.: Dreicer begins to question Johns about the recorded interview of Fernandez Saldana shown in court on Tuesday.
9:49 a.m.: Detective Johns is sworn in and defense begins their cross-examination, led by Dreicer.
9:48 a.m.: Court is in session.
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.
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