Jury deliberating in case of accused murder-for-hire suspect Mario Fernandez-Saldana

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jury deliberations started Wednesday morning in the murder-for-hire trial of Mario Fernandez-Saldana. He’s accused of hiring alleged hitman Henry Tenon to kill Jared Bridegan in 2022. Mario Fernandez Saldana, Gardner’s estranged husband, was arrested in 2023 on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, child abuse, and solicitation to commit capital felony. He’s accused of hiring Henry Tenon to kill Bridegan. In July 2026, two of the charges Fernandez Saldana was facing, child abuse and conspiracy to commit murder, were dropped. He has pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges he’s facing. His trial begins...