Anthony Milan Ross was convicted in the Christmas Day 2017 killings of Iris Ross and their two children.
PHOENIX, AZ — A Maricopa County jury sentenced former Phoenix-area chef Anthony Milan Ross to death after convicting him of murdering his ex-wife and their two children on Christmas Day in 2017.
The sentence closes a major phase in a case that drew wide attention because of Ross’ public image as a vegan chef, author and motivational speaker. Jurors had already found him guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and other charges tied to a police standoff. The penalty decision means Ross now faces death sentences for each murder count.
The jury reached its penalty decision Wednesday, May 6, and the verdict was read shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday, May 7. Prosecutors said Ross killed Iris Ross and their children, 11-year-old Nigel and infant Anora, at his apartment near 16th Street and Highland Avenue, south of Camelback Road. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said the sentence matched the weight of the crimes. “Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of what he did, and he deserves the ultimate punishment,” Mitchell said after the verdict.
The killings happened Dec. 25, 2017, during what authorities described as a custody exchange. Iris Ross had gone to Ross’ apartment to pick up the children for the holiday. Witnesses told police they saw Ross shoot her outside as she tried to get away. Investigators said Ross then went back inside the apartment, where the children were later found dead in separate rooms. The case also included charges tied to Ross’ actions after the shootings, when officers surrounded the apartment and tried to end a standoff.
Police said Ross barricaded himself inside after the shootings and exchanged gunfire with officers during a long standoff. Jurors later convicted him not only of the murders but also of aggravated assault counts related to the confrontation. Prosecutors argued the killings were planned and pointed to statements, internet searches and conduct before the shootings. Defense attorneys argued during trial that Ross’ mental health had sharply declined and that he had shown erratic behavior before the crime. Jurors rejected the defense case and found aggravating factors that allowed them to consider a death sentence.
Ross had been known in the Phoenix food scene before the murders. He promoted plant-based cooking, spoke about healthy eating and had appeared at local events. Prosecutors said that public image stood in sharp contrast to what happened at the apartment on Christmas Day. Hours before the shootings, Ross posted a holiday video with his son. That video later became part of the wider public record of the case, adding to the attention around the trial. Officials have not described any remaining dispute over who carried out the killings, but court proceedings focused on his state of mind, planning and punishment.
The jury found Ross guilty in November 2025 after a trial that began in September. The penalty phase followed months later, with jurors asked to decide whether Ross should receive death or life in prison. In Arizona capital cases, a death sentence requires jurors to find that aggravating factors outweigh any mitigating evidence. The verdict was unanimous on all three murder counts. Formal court processing and automatic appellate review are expected to follow because death sentences in Arizona move through required review before any execution date can be considered.
Family members, investigators and prosecutors had waited more than eight years for the case to reach sentencing. The delay stretched from the 2017 crime scene through pretrial litigation, trial and the separate penalty phase. Mitchell said Ross had been expected to protect his family but instead chose to kill them when Iris Ross would not return to him. The statement placed the case among the county’s most severe domestic violence prosecutions. The defense may continue to challenge the verdict and sentence through appeals, a process that can take years in capital cases.
Ross remains in custody after the death verdict. The next stage is the post-sentencing and appeals process, where the convictions and sentences will be reviewed under Arizona law.
Author note: Last updated May 18, 2026.