Florida Jury Considers Murder-For-Hire Charges in Microsoft Manager's Death

A Florida jury began deliberations in the alleged murder-for-hire killing of Microsoft design manager Jared Bridegan, who was gunned down in Jacksonville Beach four years ago. Prosecutors believe he was killed over a longstanding joint custody dispute with his ex-wife and other parenting issues involving their twins.

Bridegan's SUV had a flat tire when he stopped to remove it from the road; he was shot twice by Henry Tenon, who initially pleaded guilty but later backed out of a deal to testify against defendant Mario Fernandez Saldana. The alleged gunman had no personal connection to Bridegan, but he was a former tenant at Fernandez Saldana's rental property.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Fernandez Saldana and his wife, Shanna Gardner, whose trial is set to start in September, stood to gain from the killing. Three checks totaling $10,000 written to Tenon after the homicide were marked as payments for handyman work and a business idea.