Circuit Judge London Kite handed down the sentence at the Duval County Courthouse, ordering Fernandez Saldana to serve the "remainder of natural life" in prison for the murder conviction, plus a maximum 30-year term on a second count. The sentencing came after a jury convicted Fernandez Saldana of hiring a hitman to kill Bridegan, the ex-husband of his now-estranged wife.

Before the sentence was announced, Bridegan's loved ones addressed the court, describing the enduring grief of life without him. One family member spoke of the pain of marking milestones without Bridegan present.

"Every year I have to buy a birthday gift, sing to an empty chair, close my eyes and envision he's there with me," the family member said.

Kirsten Bridegan, Jared's widow, told the court that Fernandez Saldana had shown no remorse and described a pattern of targeting those he perceived as vulnerable.

"I don't think Mario has any remorse for what he's done," she said. "What I learned about Mario throughout this process is that Mario has a pattern of preying on those smaller and weaker than him… he knew he would have to approach Jared differently."

Judge Kite delivered the final ruling after the victim impact statements, adjudicating Fernandez Saldana guilty and imposing the life sentence.

Fernandez Saldana is also charged with two counts of child molestation in an unrelated case. He is scheduled to return to court for those charges on Dec. 2.

The case has drawn widespread attention in Jacksonville and beyond, highlighting the devastating consequences of domestic violence and murder-for-hire plots. Bridegan was ambushed and shot in February 2022 while driving with his young daughter in Jacksonville Beach, a killing that shocked the community and led to a lengthy investigation.

For Bridegan's family, the sentence brings a measure of closure but not an end to their loss. As one relative put it, the empty chair at birthday celebrations remains a painful reminder of a life cut short.