JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The fourth day of testimony in the first trial related to the killing of St. Johns County father of four, Jared Bridegan, began Thursday 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.
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The first suspect on trial is Mario Fernandez Saldana, who is the estranged husband of Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner.
WATCH LIVE BELOW:
3:52 p.m.: Court resumes and State calls FBI Special Agent Bobby Blythe.
3:28 p.m.: Phuong is excused. Court is in recess until 3:45 p.m.
3:20 p.m.: The calls took place on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 2023. Phuong and Fernandez Saldana were talking about various things, such as that Fernandez Saldana and Gardner have separated, Tenon was arrested, and also about cars.
3 p.m.: Mizrahi begins playing a call between Phuong and Fernandez Saldana. Before playing the call, Mizrahi asked Phuong if he knew he was being recorded and he said “certainly not.”
2:45 p.m.: The agent’s testimony concludes. Carlos Phuong, a friend of Fernandez Saldana’s, takes the stand. Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi begins questioning.
2:24 p.m.: The jury steps out. Defense attorney James Hill said he believed the state was instructing the ATF agent in how to answer questions. Judge Kite said she believed it was just a miscommunication and instructed the agent that if he was unclear if he could answer a question, just ask her.
2:04 p.m.: Attorneys hold sidebar with Judge Kite.
1:50 p.m.: Court resumes after an extended lunch break. Testimony continues with the defense cross-examining ATF agent.
WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT THURSDAY MORNING:
Fernandez Saldana’s defense asked lead investigator, Jacksonville Beach Police Department Detective Chris Johns, a series of questions about several boots found in the truck of accused hitman Henry Tenon, and other boots found in Fernandez Saldana’s home.
The attorney asked if Johns was confident that none of the other boots could be associated with the crime.
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Johns said no. He described flaps on the boots that he believed better matched surveillance video.
He also mentioned several jackets found throughout the course of JBPD’s investigation.
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When the state had a chance to follow up with questioning, the lead detective said one other jacket would have been too small.
The defense is continuing to try to separate Fernandez Saldana from evidence gathered during the investigation.
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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