Grieving wife of Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan speaks out as his ex’s new husband is one of 2 arrested for brutal murder

A GRIEVING widow speaks out after her husband’s alleged murderer is charged with the brutal crime.

Mario Fernandez Saldana, 34, was arrested in Kissimmee, Florida on Thursday in connection to the death of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan.

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Fernandez is married to Shanna Gardner-Fernandez – the ex-wife of Bridegan.

He’s facing several charges including first-degree murder and child abuse.

“This is a capital felony punishable by death, or mandatory life in prison,” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson.

Fernandez’s former tenant, Henry Tenon, plead guilty to fatally shooting Bridegan as part of a plea agreement, said Nelson.

“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,” she added.

Fernandez’s arrest warrant shows three handwritten checks that he wrote to Tenon along with “phone records show that Tenon and Fernandez had 35 phone contacts in February, 30 contacts in March and five to nine contacts in May and June 2022.”

Bridegan, 33, was shot to death on February 16, 2022, in Jacksonville Beach.

He was with his then-two-year-old daughter Bexley when he got out of his car to remove a tire that was placed in the road.

The father was then ambushed and shot by Tenon, 61, with the bullets hitting the inside of the car near where Bexley was strapped in the back seat, according to the arrest warrant.

His widow, Kirsten Bridegan read a statement on Thursday during a press conference.

“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. We are also still angry,” she said.

Bridegan leaves behind his wife and their two children, Bexley, 3, and London, 1.

He also shares 10-year-old twins with Gardner-Fernandez, who he had just dropped off at his ex’s home before he was gunned down.

“Angry that our youngest, who was six months at the time of his death, will have no memories of her father. Angry that there will be no new memories,” said Kirsten Bridegan.

Gardner-Fernandez and Bridegan had a messy divorce in 216 and continued to battle over custody of their children and finances until he was killed.

She met Fernandez in 2018 at a CrossFit gym where he worked, said the arrest warrant.

However, it appears the couple is estranged as Gardner-Fernandez moved to West Richland, Washington late last year while Fernandez remains in Orlando.

Kirsten Bridegan said she and her family will continue to fight for justice.

“We have fought hard for the truth,” she said on Thursday. “We know there’s still a long way to go before all of those responsible are truly held accountable, but today is a very significant day for our family.”

Nelson said that the investigation into Bridegan’s death is ongoing.

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