A murder case that shocked the nation begins its courtroom phase Monday with the trial of one of three suspects accused in the February 2022 death of Jared Bridegan, a 33-year-old Microsoft senior design manager fatally shot on a dark Jacksonville Beach road.
Bridegan was killed after stopping to remove a tire deliberately placed in his path—a setup that prosecutors say was part of a calculated murder-for-hire scheme. His 2-year-old daughter was in the back seat during the shooting.
The case has drawn national attention because of its tangled mix of custody disputes and alleged criminal conspiracy. Shanna Gardner, Bridegan’s ex-wife, and Mario Fernandez Saldana, who had a brief relationship with Gardner, are both accused of involvement. A third person also faces charges in connection with the death.
Bridegan, a father of four, became the focal point of a bitter custody battle that prosecutors argue escalated into lethal violence. The allegations center on Gardner and Fernandez Saldana as the architects of the roadside ambush.
Fernandez Saldana’s jury trial begins Monday, marking the first of the criminal proceedings to reach trial. Gardner’s trial is scheduled to begin in September.
The case has parallels to other high-profile criminal matters prosecuted in the region, including the Utah campus shooting case that moved to preliminary hearing and other complex felony prosecutions involving family disputes and violent crime.
What Comes Next: Jury selection and opening arguments are expected to begin immediately in Fernandez Saldana’s trial. The September start date for Gardner’s trial will provide prosecutors and defense teams additional time to prepare their presentations. Both trials are expected to draw significant media coverage and community attention.