Celebrity chef Anthony Milan Ross found guilty of murdering his estranged wife, 2 children on Christmas Day

A shocking crime rocked Arizona when celebrity chef Anthony Milan Ross was convicted of brutally murdering his wife and two young children on Christmas Day. This tragic event unfolded nearly eight years after Ross posted a heartwarming caroling video with his son the night before the killing spree.

Ross, a well-known TV vegan chef and cookbook author, was found guilty by a Maricopa County jury on three counts of first-degree murder for the killings of his estranged wife, Iris, and their two children, 11-year-old Nigel and 10-month-old Anora. The incident occurred at Ross’ apartment when Iris arrived to pick up their children on that fateful Christmas Day in 2017.

Witnesses reported seeing Ross shoot Iris dead outside before he retreated back into his apartment. Law enforcement arrived on the scene and discovered Iris’ lifeless body on the front patio. Ross had barricaded himself inside with his two children.

After a tense seven-hour standoff, police entered Ross’ apartment and tragically found one of his children had been shot dead. During the clearing of the apartment, Ross emerged and opened fire on the officers, injuring one of them. He surrendered after a brief shootout and was taken into custody. Investigators later uncovered that Ross had also shot his other child after he was detained.

On Christmas Eve, Ross appeared in a video singing Christmas carols with his son Nigel, displaying a facade of happiness and love. The video captured a seemingly joyous moment between father and son before the horrific events that followed.

In a chilling turn of events, Ross texted his estranged wife’s sister, Mary Wogas, during the killing spree, confessing to the murders of Iris and the children. Wogas expressed shock at Ross’s actions, revealing that she knew he had a dark side but never expected such a heinous act. She also mentioned that Ross struggled with depression.

Iris’ roommate, Lushanya Echeverria, disclosed that Ross had been harassing her in the lead-up to the murders and had even shown up armed with a gun to pick up their children. In addition to the three first-degree murder convictions, Ross was found guilty of multiple counts of assault, including assaulting peace officers.

Ross is set to be sentenced on January 9, 2026, with potential penalties ranging from life in prison to death by lethal injection or the gas chamber. Before the tragedy, Ross had built a public persona around his weight loss journey through a vegan diet and active lifestyle, as documented in his book “The Change: Transforming Yourself and Your Body Into the Person You Want to Be.”

He had also made appearances in the vegan documentary “Eating You Alive” and participated in various food and lifestyle events. This harrowing case serves as a reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath a seemingly idyllic facade.