The Fort News

Kirsten Bridegan

The husband of Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife has been arrested and charged with the brazen execution of the Microsoft government.

The Jacksonville Seaside Police Office declared that Mario Fernandez-Saldana was arrested on Thursday early morning for the February 2022 slaying of Bridegan, who was fatally shot last 12 months as he tried using to shift a tire in the center of a peaceful household Florida street whilst his daughter was however in the automobile.

Fernandez-Saldana, 35, is the second husband of Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, who was married to Bridegan for six years right before their 2015 divorce. He has been indicted on a number of fees, including second-diploma murder with a weapon, and conspiracy to commit initial-degree murder. The arrest will come months immediately after Fernandez-Saldana’s handyman and tenant, Henry Tenon, was arrested in link with the Feb. 16, 2022, slaying. State Legal professional Melissa Nelson claimed in a push conference that Tenon pleaded guilty to next-diploma murder on Thursday.

“Henry Tenon has admitted that he was the shooter,” Nelson said on Thursday.

The Secret Guiding the Brazen Execution of a Microsoft Boss

Law enforcement say that Bridegan was returning to his St. Augustine house soon after dropping off his twins at his ex-wife’s home when he arrived on a tire in the center of the street. Just after leaving his 2-calendar year-outdated daughter in the backseat of his Volkswagen Atlas, Bridegan was fatally shot numerous situations “in cold blood” as he was attempting to shift the obstacle.

The toddler, who is one particular of two daughters he shares with Kirsten Bridegan, was unharmed in the attack and was however in her motor vehicle seat when an person drove by minutes afterwards and called authorities. Police say that when they arrived at the criminal offense scene, the hazard lights of Bridegan’s auto had been flashing and the tire was however on the street.

At the time of Tenon’s arrest, authorities did not give any particulars about his link to Bridegan but alleged in a complaint against him that he conspired with at the very least just one accomplice for 6 weeks prior to the slaying.

Story proceeds

General public information received by The Daily Beast confirmed that Tenon, 61, lived at a Jacksonville household that, until finally October, was owned by Fernandez-Saldana. Tenon also reportedly worked as a handyman for several of Fernandez’s Jacksonville rental homes.

A closely redacted arrest warrant affidavit, obtained by The Day-to-day Beast, notes that Tenon been given “three handwritten checks” from Fernandez-Saldana. Cellular phone information also show that Tenon and Fernandez-Saldana spoke on the cellphone 35 periods in February, 30 instances in March, and involving 5 and 9 situations in May and June.

“The totality of proof establishes that Fernandez Saldana was a principal to Bridegan’s murder and that Fernandez Saldana solicited, conspired with, and assisted others involved in Bridegan’s murder,” the affidavit states.

A spokesperson for Garnder-Fernandez did not straight away respond to a ask for for remark.

Thursday’s arrest marks another key development in the “targeted” assault against the senior design and style supervisor. As formerly reported by The Each day Beast, the Mormon dad’s death uncovered his difficult relationship and February 2015 divorce from Garnder-Fernandez.

The affidavit notes that Garnder-Fernandez satisfied her spouse at a CrossFit health club in 2018—where the latter was a “maintenance gentleman.” Prosecutors also be aware that Bridegan, Garnder-Fernandez, and Fernandez-Saldana had a “contentious relationship.”

Due to the fact their divorce, Bridegan and Garnder-Fernandez remained locked in a contentious courtroom fight in St. Johns County, which integrated fights above boy or girl custody and allegations of psychological manipulation.

Garnder-Fernandez and the twins have since moved to Washington amid media scrutiny.

Kirsten Bridegan explained to The Everyday Beast previous yr that in spite of the ongoing battle with his ex-spouse, she and Bridegan experienced figured out a schedule to be certain that he could see his children. As section of the custody settlement, the Bridegans would see the twins on Wednesdays for “date night” when they had been not with them.

“It ordinarily consisted of a evening meal and a swift activity like supper or dessert, and then the mother or father would drop the young children back off at the other parent’s residence,” Kirsten previously stated, noting that her husband was returning property from a single of all those “date nights” when he was fatally shot.

On Thursday, Bridegan’s widow thanked authorities for their ongoing attempts in acquiring her husband’s killer.

“We have fantastic reduction, but are also angry that they had been waking absolutely free and Jared wouldn’t be listed here,” she added.

Study extra at The Day-to-day Beast.

Acquired a idea? Ship it to The Daily Beast right here

Get the Every day Beast’s biggest scoops and scandals shipped suitable to your inbox. Indication up now.

Remain knowledgeable and attain endless obtain to the Day-to-day Beast’s unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.