Anthony Ross is a killer from Arizona who has been sentenced to death for the murders of his ex wife and two kids on Christmas Day
According to court documents Anthony Ross was estranged from his wife Iris Ross. On Christmas Day Iris Ross would go to Anthony apartment to celebrate Christmas and while there she told him that she had no intention of resuming their marriage
Iris Ross attempted to leave the apartment however Anthony Ross would run her down and shoot her multiple times. Anthony would then go back into his apartment where he would fatally shoot his two children 8-month-old daughter, Anora, and his 11-year-old son, Nigel
Anthony Ross would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
The odd part of this particular case is that the murders took place nine years ago. No idea why it took so long before he had his day in court
Anthony Ross Case
An Arizona chef was sentenced death months after he was convicted of the 2017 murders of his ex-wife and two children
Anthony Milan Ross fatally shot Iris Ross in Phoenix, Ariz., before entering his apartment and killing his 8-month-old daughter, Anora, and his 11-year-old son, Nigel, on Dec. 25, 2017, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said.
Prior to the shooting, authorities said, Iris had gone to Ross’ apartment to pick up the children and celebrate Christmas.
While there, she told Ross she would not take him back, according to prosecutors. He then shot her as she tried to run away before standing over her and firing more shots.
Nigel, whom Ross shot last, put his hand up in an attempt to defend himself, according to the county attorney’s office.
After threatening two witnesses, Ross then engaged in an hours-long standoff with police, which ended with him exchanging shots with officers.
The day before the murders, PEOPLE previously reported, Ross and Nigel recorded a video of them singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and posted it on Instagram.
“I’m smiling and hanging out with Nigel on Christmas Eve and we are about to embarrass ourselves,” Ross said in the video.
In November 2025, Ross was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and several counts of aggravated assault. He was sentenced to death on Thursday, May 7.
“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,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement.. “Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of what he did, and he deserves the ultimate punishment.”
“There is justice for Iris, Nigel, and Anora,” Mitchell continued.
Ross worked as a vegan chef, motivational speaker and entrepreneur prior to the killings
Anthony Ross News
Anthony Ross convicted of killing his estranged wife and two children on Christmas Day in 2017 has been sentenced to death.
A judge made the decision in a Maricopa County court on Thursday.
“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,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of what he did, and he deserves the ultimate punishment. Thanks to prosecutors Kirsten Valenzuela, Jordan Uglietta, and Richard Dusterhoft, there is justice for Iris, Nigel, and Anora.
A jury found Anthony Ross guilty in November of three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his estranged wife, 38-year-old Iris Ross, and their two children, 10-month-old Anora Ross and 11-year-old Nigel Ross.
Anthony Ross was also given 18 years in prison for 20 counts of aggravated assault.
According to court documents, Ross shot and killed Iris near 16th Street and Highland Avenue in Phoenix as she tried to run away from him. He then killed their two children, who were found dead inside the apartment where Ross had barricaded himself.
Maricopa County Attorney’s office says Phoenix Police were in a standoff with Ross for hours, as Ross threatened to kill the children if the police were to make entry into his apartment. After several hours of police negotiations had broken down, Ross suddenly began shooting. Officers then entered the apartment, where Ross fired at them until he ran out of bullets.
Anthony Ross, or “Milan,” as the family knew him, was a motivational speaker who had a national audience. He was an author and a big advocate of the vegan lifestyle, and had a fanbase following his huge weight loss success story, which he shared with his Facebook audience.
Mary Wojas, Iris’s sister, spoke at a memorial service in 2017 and told ABC15 she wanted her sister to be remembered for the “bright light” she was.
“She was cherished and loved for the good work she did. She was such a bright light and a gentle soul, a kind soul,” said Wojas.
She said her sister had been a great mother who wanted to co-parent her children with her ex-husband.
Family members and friends told ABC15 that Ross had threatened Iris in the days preceding the shooting. He had also threatened to take away what she loved most, her children, according to Wojas.
Phoenix man sentenced to death for murdering estranged wife and two kids
