Widow Recounts Husband's Final Call Before Ambush

Kirsten Bridegan recounted her husband's last phone call before he was shot and killed, as the murder trial against Mario Fernandez Saldana commenced on August 17, 2026. Prosecutors contend Fernandez Saldana helped plan and finance the killing of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan. The alleged motive is rooted in a prolonged and acrimonious custody battle between Bridegan and his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez. Bridegan was ambushed on February 16, 2022, after dropping off his twins, with his daughter Bexley remaining in the vehicle.

Testimony revealed the deep-seated conflict over parenting time, expenses, and schooling that plagued the families. Fernandez Saldana married Gardner-Fernandez in 2018. Henry Tenon was arrested in January 2023 and initially pleaded guilty, but later withdrew his cooperation agreement. Fernandez Saldana was arrested in March 2023, followed by Gardner-Fernandez's arrest in October 2023. Separate trials were ordered for Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez Saldana, with Fernandez Saldana's trial beginning August 17, 2026.