Rebecca Grossman Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed Two Boys
LOS ANGELES, California — What you need to know: Rebecca Grossman, a 58-year-old co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for the 2020 hit-and-run crash that killed two young brothers, Mark and Jacob Iskander, ages 11 and 8, in Westlake Village. When did this occur? The sentencing took place in a Van Nuys courtroom on Monday, following a jury verdict in February that found Grossman guilty of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run driving causing death. Where did the incident happen? The fatal collision occurred on September 29, 2020, at a crosswalk on Triunfo Canyon Road in Westlake Village, where the boys were walking with their family. Why is this significant? Prosecutors argued Grossman, who was driving at over 80 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone under the influence of alcohol and Valium, fled the scene despite striking the children with her Mercedes-Benz SUV, leading to a high-profile case that highlighted issues of vehicular violence and accountability among affluent individuals. How did the court reach this conclusion? The judge, upholding the jury's verdict, cited Grossman's deliberate actions and lack of remorse, denying a motion for a new trial and ordering the maximum sentence under California law, which also includes potential parole eligibility after 15 years.