Jury Convicts Ex-Wife's Husband in Microsoft Murder

Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler told jurors in closing arguments that Bridegan was "unarmed, unaware, exposed, vulnerable," adding: "He couldn't have known, on that cold asphalt in February of 2022, the architects of his murder had been making preparations for his death for months."

Stifler described the post-divorce relationship this way: "They fought over everything ... It was nasty. It was petty. It was not good on both sides." She told jurors Gardner did not want her children involved with the Mormon church.

Defense attorney Jesse Dreicer argued his client had no motive, noting no witness testified that Fernandez Saldana ever said Bridegan "deserves to die." Dreicer said Fernandez Saldana "certainly gained no benefit from the death of Jared Bridegan."

Kirsten Bridegan, the victim's widow, testified that her husband's relationship with Gardner after the divorce was "pretty terrible" and that there was "absolutely no trust."