California Philanthropist Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Hit-and-Run Deaths of Two Children
Rebecca Grossman, a wealthy co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation in Los Angeles, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Monday for the hit-and-run deaths of two children more than three years ago.
Incident Details
Grossman was speeding when she struck and killed 11-year-old Mark Iskander and his 8-year-old brother Jacob while they were in a crosswalk in Westlake Village on September 29, 2020.
Community Impact
“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,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.
Conviction
In February, a jury convicted Grossman on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death.
Incident Context
Grossman, now 60, was reportedly speeding behind a car driven by her then-lover, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, when she fatally hit the boys. Erickson was not charged in the incident.
Sentencing and Reaction
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 34 years to life. At Monday’s sentencing, the boys’ mother, Nancy Iskander, expressed that Grossman had shown no remorse for the deaths of her sons.
In a letter to the judge, Grossman insisted, "I am not a murderer" and claimed she did not see anyone or anything in the road, stating, “I swear to you, I would have driven my car into a tree to avoid hitting two little boys.”
Foundation Background
Grossman co-founded the Grossman Burn Foundation with her husband, Dr. Peter H. Grossman. The philanthropic foundation is associated with the Grossman Burn Centers, originally founded by Dr. A. Richard Grossman, Peter Grossman's father.
Law Enforcement Statement
Allen Castellano, chief of the county sheriff’s North Patrol Division, expressed hope that the sentence would provide some comfort to the family. “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,” he said.
**Correction (June 10, 2024, 9:20 p.m. ET):** An earlier version of this article misidentified the organization that Rebecca Grossman co-founded. She co-founded the Grossman Burn Foundation, not the Grossman Burn Center.
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