Valley celebrity chef Anthony Milan Ross has been convicted of murdering his estranged wife and two young children in a shocking Christmas Day tragedy that stunned Arizona in 2017.
A Maricopa County jury on Monday found Ross guilty on all three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his wife, Iris Ross, and their two children, 11-year-old Nigel and 10-month-old Anora. The jury also found him guilty of three counts of aggravated assault connected to the killings and 17 additional counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer.
Authorities said the latter charges stemmed from an armed standoff with Phoenix police, during which Ross opened fire on officers attempting to arrest him. Officers returned fire, ending a tense hours-long standoff at his apartment. No officers were seriously injured.
Ross, once a familiar face in Arizona’s food and wellness community, was known for his appearances on local television, including 3TV’s Good Morning Arizona. He had also been featured at events like the Scottsdale Food Festival, where he was interviewed less than a year before the killings.
During opening statements in September, prosecutors described Ross as a man whose obsession with fame masked deeper personal turmoil. They told jurors that behind his public image as a successful chef and motivational speaker, Ross’s life was unraveling. His wife’s decision to file for divorce six months before the murders allegedly triggered his violent outburst.
On Christmas Day 2017, police were called to the couple’s Phoenix apartment after reports of gunfire. Officers discovered the bodies of Iris, Nigel, and Anora. Investigators later determined that Ross had shot and killed his family before barricading himself inside the apartment and engaging in a prolonged standoff with police.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Ross’s controlling behavior and his deteriorating relationship with his wife. They argued that the murders were deliberate and planned, driven by his inability to accept the end of their marriage.
Defense attorneys did not dispute that Ross had fired the shots but claimed mental health issues played a role in his actions. The jury, however, rejected that argument, convicting him on all charges.
Ross now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. His sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2026, in Maricopa County Superior Court.