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A Contra Costa County jury convicted Jeffery Kendall, 39, of first-degree murder and child endangerment in connection with the February 2024 killing of 30-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis. On Monday, Superior Court Judge Glenn Kim sentenced Kendall to 50 years to life in prison, imposing two consecutive terms of 25 years to life after determining multiple aggravating factors warranted enhanced punishment.
Ligdis placed a 911 call on the morning of February 16, 2024, after Kendall forcibly entered her Pinole residence while she sheltered in a laundry room with their young son. Approximately 90 seconds into the emergency call, Kendall located them in the room, and Ligdis pleaded with him to release her, expressing concern for the child’s safety. Within moments, prosecutors said Kendall shot Ligdis fatally in the head, with the child crying out before fleeing the room.
Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells characterized the homicide as “an execution in front of a 4-year-old child” and argued it reflected an escalation pattern common in domestic violence cases where victims leave their abusers. The killing occurred merely 10 days after Ligdis ended her relationship with Kendall, prosecutors stated.
Judge Kim additionally convicted Kendall of unlawfully possessing a 3D-printed semi-automatic pistol and imposed restrictions barring contact with his son until November 2035, when the boy reaches 16 years old, except when approved by the court. Kendall currently remains in county custody pending transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
One year following Ligdis’ death, her mother released an emotional video encouraging loved ones to commemorate her daughter’s life and character rather than the violent circumstances surrounding her death. “I want this to be a day to remember Brittany, to memorialize her, the amazing person she was,” her mother said in the statement.
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