Jeffery Kendall, 39, was sentenced to between 50 years and life in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Brittany Ligdis, who was shot dead as she hid in a laundry room with their 4-year-old son during a break-in at her Pinole, California home — a killing prosecutors described as 'an execution in front of a 4-year-old child.'
Background
Ligdis called police after Kendall broke into her home on Feb. 16, 2024. The 911 call captured her final moments: she told dispatchers she was hiding with her son, then pleaded 'Let go of me' and 'you're scaring him' before yelling 'stop it.' A single gunshot to the head killed her. Their son yelled 'mommy' and ran from the room.
Officers found Ligdis dead in the 500 block of Summit Drive. Surveillance cameras captured Kendall fleeing; a California Highway Patrol traffic stop later that evening led to his arrest.
The couple had broken up about a week before the killing, according to friends. Kassandra Santiago told KTVU that Ligdis sent her a text saying Kendall did not take the breakup well: 'She said to me I'm doing OK, but it's really hard. He's very unpredictable right now.'
The Charges
A Contra Costa County jury convicted Kendall in May of first-degree murder, child endangerment, and possession of an assault weapon for using a 3D-printed pistol capable of semiautomatic fire. At sentencing, the judge called it 'one of the most difficult' cases he had experienced.
The court ordered that Kendall may only contact his son with court approval until November 2035, when the boy turns 16. Ligdis' aunt Nancy O'Neil told KTVU after the murder that the child was traumatized: "He keeps saying 'mommy's dead, mommy's dead.'"
Key Takeaways
- Brittany Ligdis, 30, was fatally shot in her laundry room while shielding her 4-year-old son.
- Jeffery Kendall, 39, convicted of first-degree murder and child endangerment; sentenced to 50 years to life.
- The killing followed a breakup about a week earlier; a friend said Ligdis described Kendall as 'unpredictable.'
- The couple's son was left traumatized and is now staying with family members.
What's Next
Kendall begins serving his sentence. His contact with his son remains restricted until the boy turns 16 in November 2035. No appeal has been announced.