Pinole, California — A California man has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for fatally shooting his former girlfriend inside her home while she hid with their 4-year-old son, bringing a close to a case prosecutors described as “an execution in front of a 4-year-old child.”
The sentencing follows a jury’s decision earlier this year finding Jeffery Kendall, 39, guilty of first-degree murder, child endangerment, and illegally possessing an assault weapon.
Final 911 Call Captured the Victim’s Last Moments
According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, the shooting occurred on Feb. 16, 2024, after 30-year-old Brittany Ligdis called 911 to report that Kendall had broken into her home.
During the emergency call, Ligdis told dispatchers she was hiding inside the home’s laundry room with her young son as Kendall searched for them.
Less than two minutes into the call, she could reportedly be heard pleading:
“Let go of me.”
Moments later, she said:
“You’re scaring him.”
She then screamed “Stop it” before Kendall allegedly shot her once in the head.
According to prosecutors, the couple’s 4-year-old son cried out “Mommy” before running from the room after witnessing the shooting.
Police Quickly Identified and Arrested the Suspect
Officers with the Pinole Police Department responded to the home in the 500 block of Summit Drive, where they found Ligdis dead from a gunshot wound.
Investigators said home surveillance footage captured Kendall leaving the property after the shooting.
Authorities issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert for his Hyundai Elantra, and later that same day California Highway Patrol officers located the vehicle and arrested him during a traffic stop.
In addition to the murder conviction, Kendall was also found guilty of possessing an illegal assault weapon after investigators determined he used a 3D-printed pistol capable of semiautomatic fire.
Judge Imposes Decades-Long Prison Sentence
Following his conviction in May, Kendall returned to court for sentencing, where a judge described the case as one of the most difficult he had handled.
The court sentenced him to 50 years to life in state prison.
The judge also ordered that Kendall may only have contact with his son if approved by the court until November 2035, when the child will turn 16 years old.
Family Says Young Boy Was Left Traumatized
Following Brittany Ligdis’ death, relatives said the young boy struggled to process what he had witnessed. Her aunt, Nancy O’Neil, previously said the child repeatedly told family members:
“Mommy’s dead, mommy’s dead.”
Friends said Ligdis had ended her relationship with Kendall about a week before the killing and had expressed concerns about his behavior.
According to friend Kassandra Santiago, Ligdis had sent a message saying the breakup had been difficult because Kendall had become “very unpredictable.”
Remembering Brittany Ligdis
Friends described Ligdis as a devoted mother and nursing student at Diablo Valley College, where she was working toward becoming a nurse.
Those who knew her said she was passionate about helping others and frequently supported fellow students throughout her studies.
Following her death, relatives confirmed that her son is now living with family members, while loved ones established a fundraiser to help support her mother and cover expenses as they continue grieving the loss.
What are your thoughts on this case? Do you believe stronger protections are needed for victims of domestic violence after a relationship ends? Share your opinion respectfully in the comments below.
