Chef sentenced to death for killing ex-wife, kids on Christmas Day

PHOENIX (KPHO/Gray News) — A jury handed down a death sentence for a Phoenix-area chef this week, convicted of murdering his ex-wife and two children in 2017.

A verdict was reached in the penalty phase of the trial of Anthony Milan Ross on Wednesday. The jury read their unanimous verdict for the death penalty on the three counts of first-degree murder for which Ross was charged.

“Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of what he did, and he deserves the ultimate punishment,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said.

Last November, a jury found him guilty with several aggravating factors for killing his estranged wife and two children, an 11-year-old and a 10-month-old, on Christmas Day 2017.

“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,” Mitchell continued.

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

On Christmas Day, prosecutors said his ex-wife 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. That’s when investigators said Ross shot her multiple times as she tried to run away, then shot her several times again after she fell to the ground.

Authorities said Ross reportedly went back into his apartment and shot his children, then returned to the parking lot, where witnesses saw him going through his ex-wife’s pants pockets.

When the witnesses asked if she was OK, Ross told them no and pointed the gun at them. They ran away as he went back into his apartment.

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

After negotiations broke down hours later, investigators said Ross started shooting.

Police went inside, where Ross reportedly fired several shots at them before running out of ammunition. He was then taken into custody.

During the trial, prosecutors claimed Ross’ motive was his obsession with being a celebrity whose success was a facade, and whose world came crashing down when his wife filed for divorce six months before the murders.

Defense attorneys argued the killings were not premeditated, saying Ross was depressed and had been drinking on the day of the shootings.

Ross was also found guilty on three counts of aggravated assault stemming from the murder and 17 counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer because when police stormed the apartment, Ross reportedly shot at officers who fired back during an hours-long standoff.

In addition to the death sentence, Ross was given an additional 18 years in prison on the aggravated assault charges.