An Arizona man, once celebrated as a chef to the stars, has been convicted of murder nearly eight years after the tragic Christmas Day killings of his family.

Anthony Milan Ross, now 53, was found guilty by a jury on Monday of three counts of first-degree murder along with 20 additional charges. These charges relate to the 2017 fatal shootings of his estranged wife, Iris Ross, and their two children, Nigel, aged 11, and 9-month-old Anora. Prosecutors revealed that Iris Ross had initiated divorce proceedings six months before the December 25, 2017, murders, a move that seemingly pushed the local celebrity to commit the heinous crime.

As reported by KPNX, an NBC affiliate, Iris Ross visited Anthony Ross’s Phoenix apartment on Christmas Day to collect her two children. Earlier that day, Anthony Ross, known for his cookbooks and vegan recipes following his weight-loss journey, shared a video on social media featuring himself and Nigel singing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” to extend holiday wishes to family and friends.

However, just a few hours later, witnesses reported seeing Anthony Ross fatally shoot his wife outside the apartment building before retreating indoors. When police arrived, he locked himself inside with the children, leading to a standoff that lasted several hours. Once law enforcement breached the apartment, they discovered one child had been killed.

In a confrontation with the officers, Anthony Ross opened fire, injuring one, before being apprehended. After his arrest, authorities found the second child also shot dead.

Anthony Ross was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and 17 counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer. He was found guilty on all counts following a trial that began in September. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2026.