Fernandez Saldana is the first of the three defendants in the case to stand trial, First Coast News reported. A jury has found Mario Fernandez Saldana guilty of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony in the shooting death of St. Augustine father of four Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach.
Trial Set for Gardner in Washington Murder Case
In August 2023, Gardner, 39, was arrested in Washington State following a murder investigation. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her trial is scheduled to begin in September 2023. Gardner relocated to Washington after the incident, which has drawn significant attention in the local community.
All the evidence combined suggested that Fernandez Saldana was involved in the murder-for-hire plot, which followed “years of animosity” and a “high-conflict” custody dispute over Bridegan and Gardner’s twins, according to Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler. However, defense attorney Jesse Dreicer argued that Fernandez Saldana had no motive.
He will be back in court on October 5 at 9 am to receive a sentencing date. Prosecutors told jurors that Tenon, 65, was not available as a witness in the case.
However, he later withdrew his plea and let his counsel know that he will not testify, according to a court filing. Since first-degree murder in Florida is a capital felony, it carries a mandatory life sentence or prosecutors can also seek the death penalty. However, the state has not opted for the death penalty in Fernandez Saldana’s case, so he is set to receive life in prison. Initially, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was listed as a testifying co-defendant in Fernandez Saldana and Gardner’s trials. He is scheduled to go on trial next year.
