Man Convicted in Murder of Microsoft Exec in Plot Allegedly Involving Victim's Ex-Wife

A man accused of arranging the fatal shooting of a Microsoft design manager on a Florida road was convicted Wednesday in a murder-for-hire scheme fueled by a stormy child custody arrangement between the victim and his wealthy ex-wife.

Man Convicted in Murder of Microsoft Exec in Plot Allegedly Involving Victim's Ex-Wife

TL;DR

  • Mario Fernandez Saldana was convicted of murder and solicitation of murder in the death of Microsoft design manager Jared Bridegan.
  • Prosecutors stated the murder was a "targeted ambush" motivated by a difficult child custody dispute between Bridegan and his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner.
  • Gardner, who is married to Saldana and faces trial in September, allegedly opposed the children's involvement with the Mormon church.
  • The alleged gunman, Henry Tenon, received payments after the homicide and his DNA was found on a tire placed in the road.
  • Tenon initially agreed to testify against Saldana but later withdrew his plea deal.