Los Angeles, California – Rebecca Grossman, a notable figure in the social scene, has been found guilty of second-degree murder for the tragic deaths of two young boys in a crosswalk. The boys, Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 8, lost their lives after being struck by Grossman’s Mercedes-Benz SUV as she raced through an intersection in Westlake Village, a residential neighborhood northwest of Los Angeles.
The jury, consisting of nine men and three women, deliberated for nine hours before reaching the verdict on the second day of deliberations after a six-week trial. Grossman now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 34 years to life. In addition to the murder charges, she was also convicted of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit-and-run driving resulting in death.
During the trial, it was revealed that Grossman had been drinking with her partner, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, before the fatal incident occurred in September 2020. Prosecutors stated that the two were engaged in a street race through the neighborhood, with Grossman driving at a speed exceeding 70mph in a 45mph zone, ultimately leading to the tragic collision that claimed the lives of the two boys.
The boys’ mother, Nancy Iskander, provided a heartbreaking testimony, recounting how the SUVs driven by Grossman and Erickson were zigzagging through the neighborhood as if they were playing or racing. She described the horrific moment when the boys were struck, with Mark’s body found 254 feet away from the crosswalk and Jacob about 50 feet away.
Despite attempts by Grossman’s defense to shift blame onto Erickson during the trial, the judge determined that Grossman was engaged in reckless behavior far beyond gross negligence. Meanwhile, Erickson faced misdemeanor reckless driving charges and was ordered to create a public service announcement on safe driving for high school students, denying any wrongdoing in the tragic incident.
Grossman, known for her involvement in the Grossman Burn Foundation and married to prominent surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman, now awaits sentencing scheduled for April 10th, facing the consequences of her reckless actions that led to the devastating loss of two young lives.