Jared Bridegan Murder Trial Begins for Mario Fernandez Saldana in Florida
The trial for Mario Fernandez Saldana, estranged husband of Jared Bridegan's ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, has commenced with opening statements in Jacksonville, Florida. Fernandez Saldana is accused of hiring a hitman to kill Bridegan, a St. Johns County father of four, who was gunned down on February 16, 2022. Prosecutors allege that Fernandez Saldana planned the murder, driven by a contentious co-parenting relationship between Bridegan and Gardner. The defense, however, argues that there is no physical evidence linking Fernandez Saldana to the crime scene, such as DNA or fingerprints, and that the prosecution's narrative is 'fiction.' The trial is expected to feature testimony from numerous witnesses, including Bridegan's widow, Kirsten Bridegan, who testified about the strained relationship between the co-parents and the events leading up to Bridegan's death. The prosecution highlighted that the killer knew Bridegan's routine and the specific location where he would be ambushed, suggesting an intimate knowl... 
