Jeffery Kendall has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis, the mother of his 4-year-old son. The killing occurred on Feb. 16, 2024, at Ligdis' home in Pinole, California, while she was on a 911 call seeking help.
A jury found Kendall, 39, guilty in May of first-degree murder and child endangerment. Prosecutors stated that Ligdis ended their relationship just 10 days before the incident.
During the 911 call, Ligdis informed the dispatcher that Kendall had broken into her home and that she was hiding in a laundry room with their son. Approximately 90 seconds into the call, Kendall entered the room where Ligdis pleaded with him to let her go and noted he was scaring their child. Ligdis then screamed "Stop it" before Kendall shot her in the head. Their son cried out for his mother and fled the room, while Kendall escaped the home. Responding officers found Ligdis deceased from a gunshot wound.
Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells characterized the murder as "an execution in front of a 4-year-old child," asserting it was not the result of a mental break but rather a pattern seen in domestic violence cases where danger escalates after a victim decides to leave. Wells advocated for a sentencing enhancement that led to Kendall's punishment of 50 years to life.
Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Glenn Kim imposed two consecutive terms of 25 years to life. The judge also prohibited Kendall from contacting his son, with limited exceptions approved by the court, until the child turns 16 in November 2035. Additionally, Kendall was convicted of illegally possessing a 3D-printed semi-automatic pistol, a factor that supported a harsher sentence.
Ligdis' mother shared an emotional video a year after her daughter's death, urging loved ones to remember Ligdis' life and character rather than the violence that ended it.
Kendall is awaiting transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.