American socialite Rebecca Grossman has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the hit-and-run deaths of brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander in California.
Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8, were killed on September 29, 2020, when they were struck by Grossman’s speeding vehicle while crossing the street with their family in Westlake Village, California. Grossman, 60, was sentenced with the possibility of parole on Monday.
In a press release, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón stated that the young brothers lost their lives due to Grossman’s “reckless actions.” Gascón had sought a sentence of 34 years to life for Grossman, arguing that she showed a “complete lack of remorse for the deaths. While we respect the judicial process, we are deeply disappointed with the outcome of today’s sentencing,” he said. “The loss of these two innocent lives has devastated their family and our community. Ms. Grossman’s blatant disregard for human life is a stark reminder of the grave consequences of irresponsible behavior behind the wheel.
Grossman was convicted in February of two felony counts of second-degree murder, two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death. She was ordered to pay $47,161.89 to the victims.
Grossman, a wealthy philanthropist, is married to Dr. Peter H. Grossman, whose father founded the Grossman Burn Center. Grossman herself co-founded the Grossman Burn Foundation, an organization that provides comprehensive treatment, care, and support to burn survivors and their families.
Before the collision, Grossman had been speeding in her white Mercedes-Benz SUV, following the car of former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson. During the trial, it was revealed that Grossman and Erickson were allegedly having an affair. Erickson was not charged in connection with the hit-and-run. Grossman has maintained that she did not see the boys in the marked crosswalk. She apologized to the Iskander family during her sentencing, weeping as victim impact statements were read aloud in the courtroom.
Grossman claimed she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was not racing at the time of the collision. However, evidence presented during the trial asserted Grossman had consumed at least two margaritas and had Valium in her system when she was following Erickson. Prosecutors said Grossman was driving at speeds of up to 81 mph in a 45 mph zone. She fled the scene of the crash, which triggered her airbags.
Her lawyers argued the hit-and-run was an accident, claiming Erickson’s car hit the brothers, a theory the prosecution called “ridiculous.” Grossman blamed the boys for their own deaths, claiming they were outside of the crosswalk, though no evidence supported this. She also said the boys' mother should not have been walking her children at dusk. According to the LA Times, prosecutors accused Grossman of witness tampering, including through her daughter Alexis, who testified that Erickson threatened her family.
Before sentencing, Grossman submitted a letter to the judge asking for leniency. I am not a murderer, and I ask you to recognize that true fact,the letter read. My pain, my recognition of the pain the Iskanders suffer, and the pain I watch my family endure, are punishments that I already suffer and will for the rest of my life. Please consider this suffering when you consider what more punishment to impose on me in this case.
From the very beginning, the facts have been distorted and misrepresented, turning the tragic accident into murder and me into a cold-blooded killer,” Grossman argued in the letter. “The voices demanding vengeance and retribution are reacting to the tragic loss of Mark and Jacob, but they do not fairly describe me or who I am.” She continued, “As God is my witness, I did not see anyone or anything in the road. I swear to you, I would have driven my car into a tree to avoid hitting two little boys.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Chief Allen Castellano sent “thoughts and prayers” to the grieving Iskander family. “We hope this justice brings them some measure of comfort,” Castellano said. “This individual showed a complete disregard for the lives and safety of others in our community through her reckless actions, which ultimately shattered a family and robbed two children of their bright futures.”
Grossman will be eligible for parole in about nine years.
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