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| During her sentencing, Grossman told the parents of Jacob and Mark Iskander that she waited for four years to tell them how sorry she is for the loss of their children. Credit: Mona Edwards |
Rebecca Grossman, co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison on Monday for her involvement in a crash that resulted in the deaths of two young boys in Westlake Village. The incident occurred in September 2020 when Grossman's white Mercedes-Benz SUV struck Mark and Jacob Iskander, aged 11 and 8, as they were crossing a marked crosswalk with their family.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors had requested a longer term of 34 years to life, emphasizing the severity of the tragedy. Grossman's defense team, however, advocated for either probation or a shorter prison term of approximately 12 years on lesser charges of vehicular manslaughter.
Throughout the proceedings, Grossman, visibly emotional, listened to victim impact statements delivered in court, including those from the boys' relatives, teachers, and neighbors, who shared fond memories of Mark and Jacob.
Despite maintaining her innocence and expressing remorse in a letter to the judge, Grossman was convicted on two counts each of second-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, as well as one count of hit-and-run driving. The judge ordered her immediate custody following the jury's verdict.
In her letter, Grossman asserted her lack of intent to harm, expressing deep sorrow for the Iskander family's loss and recounting her own ongoing anguish. She emphasized her lack of impairment at the time of the accident and denied allegations of reckless driving.
Prosecutors, however, portrayed Grossman's actions post-crash as indicative of a lack of remorse and a refusal to accept responsibility. They highlighted her attempts to shift blame onto the victims and her ex-boyfriend, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
In response, Grossman's new defense team argued that while she bore responsibility for the accident, her actions did not warrant such a severe sentence. They suggested the possibility of probation with a suspended state prison sentence as an alternative.
Despite efforts by her attorneys to secure a new trial, the judge upheld Grossman's conviction. Following the verdict, the victims' mother, Nancy Iskander, expressed a sense of closure, acknowledging the emotional toll of the trial while expressing forgiveness towards Grossman.
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| During the sentencing, Nancy spoke directly to Grossman yelling that Grossman had lied and never showed remorse for killing her children. (Credit: Mona Edwards) |
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