Background: Superior Court of Arizona for Maricopa County in Phoenix, Ariz. (Google Maps). Inset (left): Anthony Milan Ross (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office). Inset (right): Iris Ross (center) and her two children, Nigel (left) and Anora (right) (GoFundMe).
An Arizona man, once celebrated as a renowned chef, has been convicted of murder nearly eight years after the horrific Christmas Day killings of his family.
Anthony Milan Ross, aged 53, was found guilty by a jury on Monday of three counts of first-degree murder along with 20 additional charges linked to the 2017 shootings of his estranged wife, Iris Ross, and their two children, 11-year-old Nigel and 9-month-old Anora. Prosecutors revealed that Iris Ross had initiated divorce proceedings six months before the tragic events of December 25, 2017, which seemingly propelled the local celebrity into committing these brutal acts.
According to KPNX, an NBC affiliate in the area, Iris Ross had visited Anthony Ross’s Phoenix apartment on Christmas Day to collect her children. Earlier in the day, the chef, who gained fame for his cookbooks and vegan recipes following his weight-loss journey, shared a video online. In it, he and Nigel sang “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” extending holiday cheer to friends and family.
Tragically, just hours later, witnesses reported seeing Anthony Ross fatally shoot his wife outside the apartment complex before retreating indoors. As police arrived, he barricaded himself inside with the children, leading to a standoff that lasted several hours. When the police eventually forced entry, they discovered one of the children had been killed.
During the confrontation, Anthony Ross fired at officers, injuring one, before he was subdued and arrested. After his capture, officers found the second child, who had also been fatally shot.
Ross faced charges that included three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and 17 counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer. After a trial that commenced in September, he was found guilty on all counts. His sentencing is set for January 9, 2026.
