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· collected 2026-08-04 · by Stepheny Price
A district attorney described the killing of 30-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis by her ex-boyfriend Jeffery Kendall as "an execution in front of a 4-year-old child". Kendall, 39, was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for murdering Ligdis just 10 days after she ended their relationship. A jury found Kendall guilty of first-degree murder and child endangerment in May. Prosecutors said Kendall entered the room where Ligdis was hiding with their son on February 16, 2024, shot her in the head, and then fled the scene.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jeffery Kendall, 39, has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for murdering his ex-partner Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis, 30, in front of their 4-year-old son. The incident occurred on February 16, 2024, when Kendall broke into Ligdis' home in Pinole, California, and shot her in the head while she was hiding with their child in a laundry room. Ligdis had called 911 to beg for help after Kendall entered the room, pleading "Let go of me" and "Stop it". The child witnessed the shooting and fled the scene, where responding officers later found Ligdis' body. A jury had previously found Kendall guilty of first-degree murder and child endangerment in May.
Written for “Murder of Mother and Son” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article presents a clear and critical view of the perpetrator, Jeffery Kendall, using phrases such as 'carried out the execution' and describing the killing as 'an execution in front of a 4-year-old child'. This framing implies that Kendall's actions were premeditated and heinous. Additionally, the article quotes the Deputy District Attorney emphasizing that the murder reflected a pattern often seen in domestic violence cases, which further suggests a critical perspective on Kendall's actions.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score -0.40 for article 324 · logged 2026-08-04
More than two years after a California mother's desperate 911 call ended with her 4-year-old son witnessing her killing, the father prosecutors said carried out the execution will spend decades behind bars.
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prosecutors → end → bars
Jeffery Kendall, 39, was sentenced Monday to 50 years to life in prison for murdering 30-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis just 10 days after she ended their relationship, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
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she → sentence → Office
A jury found Kendall guilty in May of first-degree murder and child endangerment for placing the couple’s young son in a situation that threatened his safety.
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that → find → safety
Prosecutors said Ligdis called 911 on the morning of Feb. 16, 2024, after Kendall broke into her Pinole home while she hid in a laundry room with their 4-year-old son.
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she → say → son
About 90 seconds into the call, Kendall entered the room.
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Kendall → enter → room
," Ligdis pleaded, according to the district attorney’s office.
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Ligdis → plead → office
"You're scaring him."
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You → scar → him
Moments later, she screamed, "Stop it," before Kendall shot her in the head, prosecutors said.
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prosecutors → scream → head
The couple’s son cried out, "Momma," and fled the room while Kendall ran from the home.
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Kendall → cry → home
Responding officers found Ligdis dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
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officers → respond → head
Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells described the killing as "an execution in front of a 4-year-old child" and argued it was not the result of "a mental break," according to the district attorney’s office.
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it → describe → office
Instead, Wells said the murder reflected a pattern often seen in domestic violence cases, where the danger escalates after a victim decides to leave.
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victim → say → cases
Wells asked the court to impose a sentencing enhancement that increased Kendall’s punishment to 50 years to life.
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that → ask → life
Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Glenn Kim called the case "one of the most difficult" he had experienced before imposing two consecutive terms of 25 years to life.
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he → call → life
Kim also barred Kendall from contacting his son, with limited exceptions subject to court approval, until November 2035, when the boy turns 16.
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boy → bar → November
Separately, Judge Kim convicted Kendall of illegally possessing a 3D-printed semi-automatic pistol and determined that multiple factors supported a harsher sentence.
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factors → convict → sentence
One year after Brittany Ligdis' death, her mother shared an emotional video urging family and friends to remember her daughter's life rather than the violence that ended it.
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that → share → it
"I want this to be a day to remember Brittany, to memorialize her, the amazing person she was," she said.
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she → want → her
"Think of her — all the things we miss about her, her kiss, her hug.
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we → think → her
I'll miss everything myself.
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I → miss → everything
I will love her forever."
Kendall remains in county jail awaiting transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
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Kendall → love → Corrections
The Pinole Police Department told Fox News Digital it had no comment on Kendall's sentencing.
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it → tell → sentencing
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional comment.
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Office → respond → comment
