Phoenix Chef Sentenced to Death for 2017 Christmas Day Murders of Wife and Children

A Phoenix chef has been sentenced to death by a jury for the charges of murdering his ex-wife and children in 2017 on Christmas Day. He was convicted earlier and has now been sentenced to death in connection with the killings.

The jury reached a verdict in the penalty phase of the trial of the Phoenix chef, identified as Anthony Milan Ross. Ross was sentenced to death on May 6, and the sentence was read on May 7. The jury was unanimous in its decision for the death penalty on the three counts of first-degree murder.

The jury found Ross guilty in November 2025 with several aggravating factors for killing his estranged wife, Iris, and two children, 11-year-old Nigel, and 8-month-old Anora, on December 25, 2017. The killings occured at his apartment near 16th Street and Highland Avenue, south of Camelback Road.

“This defendant was supposed to protect his family; instead, he made a deliberate choice to take their lives on Christmas Day when his wife wouldn’t take him back,” the Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a press release.

“Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of what he did, and he deserves the ultimate punishment. Thanks to prosecutor Kirsten Valenzuela, Jordon Uglietta, and Richard Dusterhoft, there is justice for Iris and both the children, Nigel and Anora.

Hours before the killing, Ross uploaded a video on his Facebook page of himself singing a Christmas carol with his son.

On Christmas Day, the prosecutor said Iris went to his apartment to pick up their children. Ross met her in the parking lot, where she reportedly told him that she would not take him back. Ross then shot her multiple times as she tried to run away and fired again after she fell to the ground.

He then went back into his apartment, shot his children and returned to the parking lot, where witnesses saw him going through Iris’ pockets. When the witnesses asked if she was okay, Ross said no and pointed a gun at them. They ran away as he returned inside.

Phoenix police were called to the scene, which turned into a standoff when Ross threatened to kill his children if officers entered. Police were unaware at the time that the children were already dead.

After negotiations broke down, hours later, investigators said Ross opened fire. Officers entered the apartment, where Ross allegedly fired at them before running out of ammunition. He was then taken into custody.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that Ross’ motive stemmed from his obsession with being seen as a celebrity, which collapsed after his wife filed for divorce