Jeffery Kendall, 39, was sentenced to two consecutive 25-years-to-life terms after being convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend, Brittany Ligdis, in front of their 4-year-old son on Feb. 16, 2024. Prosecutors say Ligdis called 911 from a laundry room while Kendall forced his way in; audio captured her pleas and the child's cries before a gunshot. Kendall was found guilty of first-degree murder, child endangerment and possessing an assault weapon; the prosecutor called the killing "an execution." Ligdis' family remembered her as a loving mother and nursing student on the anniversary of her death.
50 Years to Life: Man Sentenced After Shooting Ex-Girlfriend in Front of 4-Year-Old Son
Brittany Ligdis and Jeffery Kendall.Credit: Brittany Ligdis/Facebook; Pinole Police
Jeffery Kendall, 39, has been sentenced to 50 years to life after being convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend, 30-year-old Brittany Ligdis, in front of their 4-year-old son on Feb. 16, 2024, in Pinole, California.
Details of the Attack
Prosecutors say Kendall forced his way into Ligdis' home in the morning and she hid in a laundry room while calling 911 to report the trespass. According to a news release from the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, Ligdis remained on the emergency line for roughly 90 seconds. Audio from that call captured her pleading, "Let go of me" and "You're scaring him," referring to the couple's young son, and then a scream followed by a gunshot. Authorities say Kendall used a 3D-printed pistol capable of semi-automatic fire to shoot Ligdis in the head. The child cried, "Momma!" and fled the room; Kendall left the scene and was recorded by nearby cameras as he fled.
Arrest, Trial and Conviction
The California Highway Patrol took Kendall into custody soon after the incident. On May 7, 2025, in a Pinole courtroom, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and child endangerment. After the defense moved to have weapons-related counts decided by a judge, a bench trial on those charges resulted in a guilty finding for possession of an assault weapon.
"An execution in front of a 4-year-old child," said Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells, who rejected the defense suggestion the shooting resulted from a sudden "mental break," arguing instead that the conduct reflected an escalation common in domestic violence when a partner tries to leave.
Sentencing and Post-Conviction Orders
At a sentencing hearing on July 31, the court imposed two consecutive terms of 25 years to life, totaling 50 years to life. The judge also barred Kendall from contacting his son until November 2035, with limited exceptions only by court approval; at that time the boy will be 16 years old.
Family Remembrance
Ligdis' family has described her as a devoted mother and an "exceptional nursing student." On the first anniversary of her death, Feb. 16, 2025, her mother Cathy posted on social media urging others to remember Brittany's warmth and the many small moments they miss: "Think of her, all the things we miss about her — her kiss, her hug. I'll miss everything... I will love her forever."
Context: The case underscores concerns about domestic-violence escalation after an intimate partner ends a relationship and highlights the dangers posed by improvised or 3D-printed firearms.
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