Man Who Shot Wife In Front Of Son Sentenced 50 Years To Life

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A judge sentenced a man Monday to 50 years to life in state prison for fatally shooting his former girlfriend in front of their 4-year-old son just 10 days after she ended their relationship.

Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Glenn Kim imposed two consecutive terms of 25 years to life on 39-year-old Jeffery Kendall after a jury convicted him in May of first-degree murder in the Feb. 16, 2024, killing of 30-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis.

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Jurors also found Kendall guilty of child endangerment for placing the couple's young son in danger during the shooting, according to the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said the killing unfolded during a harrowing 911 call after Kendall forced his way into Ligdis' home.

According to evidence presented at trial, Ligdis told a dispatcher Kendall had broken into the residence and that she was hiding in the laundry room with their son.

Roughly 90 seconds into the call, Kendall entered the room. Ligdis pleaded, "Let go of me" and "You're scaring him," before screaming, "Stop it," prosecutors said.

Kendall then shot her in the head as the child cried out, "Momma," and ran from the room. Kendall fled before officers arrived, and responding police found Ligdis dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells argued the murder reflected a pattern frequently seen in domestic violence cases, where violence escalates after a victim leaves a relationship.

Calling the killing "an execution in front of a 4-year-old child," Wells urged the court to impose a sentencing enhancement that increased Kendall's prison term to 50 years to life.

In a separate bench trial, Judge Kim also found Kendall guilty of possessing an assault weapon, specifically a 3D-printed pistol capable of semi-automatic fire. The judge further found six aggravating sentencing factors related to that offense to be true.

During Monday's sentencing hearing, Kim described the case as "one of the most difficult" he has presided over.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge barred Kendall from contacting his son, except under limited circumstances with court approval, until November 2035, when the boy turns 16.

Kendall remains in the Contra Costa County jail awaiting transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to begin serving his sentence.