Man Sentenced To Life For Killing Daughter, Girl’s Mother

A Bartow man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his 3-year-old daughter and her mother.

A judge in Polk County sentenced 38-year-old Lester Ross Thursday. He was convicted in November of first-degree murder and aggravated manslaughter. He was looking at a possible death sentence.

            Authorities found the bodies of Ross’ daughter Masaraha Ross, and the girls’ mother, Ronkeya Holmes, buried in a grove in Winter Haven in December 2010. Ross was arrested two years later.

Ross’ ex-wife, Sharon Evans, testified she drove Ross to bury the bodies in 2009 because she feared her husband would kill her if she talked to police.