Mario Fernandez Saldana was sentenced to life in prison Thursday after Jacksonville Judge London Kite denied his request for a new trial, Action News Jax reported. A Duval County jury had found him guilty of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony in August, according to the Office of the State Attorney, Fourth Judicial Circuit.
Florida’s statutory framework
Florida law classifies first-degree murder as a capital felony and directs that its punishment be governed by section 775.082, according to Florida Statutes, section 782.04.
The case against Fernandez Saldana
Bridegan was killed on Feb. 16, 2022, after dropping off his twins at their mother’s home and stopping to move a tire from the road, according to Action News Jax. Prosecutors said Fernandez Saldana solicited Henry Tenon to carry out the killing amid custody disputes and to help Shanna Gardner become trustee of her trust fund, the state attorney’s office said. Gardner has been charged in the case and had not yet gone to trial as of Thursday, Action News Jax reported.
Family members addressed the court
At sentencing, Kirsten Bridegan told the court Jared’s death had reshaped life for her and their four children. She said the family intended to keep his memory part of the children’s lives, according to News4JAX.
Jared’s father, Gaylord Bridegan, described the loss as continuing. Jared’s brother Adam wrote that the death changed the family’s view of the future; Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler read Adam’s statement in court, News4JAX reported.
Jared’s eldest daughter, identified as 14, wrote about the difficulty of adjusting to life without her father, The Florida Times-Union reported.
