- A man charged in the death of a Microsoft manager is the husband of the victim's ex-wife, prosecutors said.
- Jared Bridegan, 33, was shot to death last year in Florida in front of his 2-year-old child, police said.
A Florida man charged in the killing of a Microsoft manager who was shot dead in front of his 2-year-old child last year is the husband of the victim's ex-wife, officials announced on Thursday.
Mario Fernandez Saldana — the husband of Jared Bridegan's ex-wife, Shanna Garderner-Fernandez — was charged with first-degree murder in Bridegan's death, officials said.
Bridegan, 33, was ambushed in February 2022 while driving home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with his young daughter in the backseat, police previously said.
The Microsoft senior design manager and father-of-four got out of his car to remove a tire from the road that had been deliberately placed there, police said. He was then shot dead, authorities said.
Fernandez Saldana was arrested Thursday morning and indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The office of State Attorney Melissa Nelson responded after this story's publication with lawyer information for Fernandez Saldana. Attorney Jesse Dreicer did not immediately for a request for comment.
Garderner-Fernandez has not been charged in the crime; prosecutors said they are still investigating the killing.
Fernandez Saldana's arrest comes after authorities charged 61-year-old Henry Tenon with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder earlier this year.
"We know Henry Tenon did not act alone, and Tenon has confirmed this to be true," State Attorney Melissa Nelson said during a press conference on Thursday, adding that the investigation "has revealed a single link between Jared Bridegan and Henry Tenon — that is Mario Fernandez Saldana."
Tenon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Thursday and agreed to "testify truthfully against those he worked with to murder Jared Bridegan," Nelson said.
"Tenon's cooperation has both corroborated evidence collected during the investigation and provided additional evidence against Mario Fernandez Saldana for his role in the planning and execution of Jared's murder," Nelson said.
Nelson said Tenon was a former tenant of a rental property Fernandez Saldana owned.
"Henry Tenon has admitted that he was, in fact, the shooter," Nelson said.
Bridegan's widow Kristen Bridegan — who married Jared after he divorced — tearfully spoke during the press conference on Thursday, saying, "We are today feeling many emotions."
"We have great relief knowing that two of the people behind my husband's murder are now behind bars and are no longer a threat to our family," Kristen Bridegan said.
She added, "We are also still angry — angry that they were walking free while we were grappling with the reality that Jared wouldn't be here for any future memories, vacations, or tender moments with our kids."
"Justice for Jared will not be stopped," she vowed.