An important and wealthy woman from Los Angeles was given 15 years to life in jail on Monday for killing two boys while they were crossing the street with their mother and younger brother.
Rebecca Grossman was found guilty of second-degree murder and other charges related to the accident on September 29, 2020, that killed Jacob Iskander, 8, and his brother Mark Iskander, 11. The teens were crossing the street.
Nancy Iskander, who worked as a manager in science, grabbed her 5-year-old son Zachary and jumped out of the way. But she and her younger son saw the crash happen.
Judge Joseph Brandolino of the Los Angeles Superior Court said that Grossman should not be given a sentence of 34 years to life because it is “just not warranted here,” according to Fox Los Angeles. He said that the deaths of the children were a “unimaginable loss,” but he also pointed out that Grossman did not have a criminal record and had a past of helping others.
Noting Grossman’s “incredibly selfish behavior” after the crash, Brandolino said, “she’s not a monster as the prosecution attempts to portray her here.”
“Their deaths have been a terrible blow to their families and to our community as a whole.” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said, “Ms. Grossman’s blatant disregard for human life is a stark reminder of the terrible consequences of being irresponsible behind the wheel.”
“Our office went after this case to get justice for the victims and their families by pushing for a sentence that fit the severity of the crime.” “We will continue to help the family of the victims through this tough time,” he said.
Authorities told Fox News Digital that Grossman, who is 60 years old, was drunk and on prescription drugs at the time of the 2020 crash. She was driving her boyfriend, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, home from a restaurant, even though she was married to Dr. Peter Grossman, a well-known surgeon in Los Angeles. All of them were going faster than 70 mph in Mercedes-Benz SUVs.
Nancy Iskander has said before that she never said she was sorry. Prosecutors said Grossman never went back to the scene of the crime and did not help the boys.
Grossman wrote to the judge in a letter, “I am not a murderer, and I ask you to recognize that true fact.” As a punishment, I already feel pain, I know the pain the Iskanders feel, and I see my family go through pain. I will continue to feel pain for the rest of my life. Please think about this pain when you decide what else to punish me for in this case.”
Grossman has already been locked up for 111 days and paid back almost $50,000.
