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Rebecca Grossman, a wealthy Los Angeles socialite, was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in prison for the deaths of two boys who were crossing the street with their family in a tragic accident.
Grossman, 60, was convicted of second-degree murder and other charges stemming from the Sept. 29, 2020 crash that claimed the lives of Jacob Iskander, 8, and his brother, 11-year-old Mark Iskander. The boys were crossing the street with their mother, Nancy Iskander, and younger brother, Zachary, when the incident occurred.
Nancy Iskander, a biotech executive, managed to pull her youngest son out of harm's way but witnessed the devastating crash that took her older sons' lives.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino rejected prosecutors' request for a 34-year to life sentence, citing Grossman's lack of a criminal record and her philanthropic history. "The children's deaths were an unimaginable loss," Brandolino said. However, he acknowledged Grossman's "incredibly selfish behavior" following the crash but noted, "she's not a monster as the prosecution attempts to portray her here."
The tragic event has had a profound impact on the Iskander family and the community. "The loss of these two innocent lives has devastated their family and our community," Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said. "Ms. Grossman’s blatant disregard for human life is a stark reminder of the grave consequences of irresponsible behavior behind the wheel."
Prosecutors revealed that Grossman had prescription drugs and alcohol in her system at the time of the crash. On the night of the accident, she was racing home with her boyfriend, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, with both driving Mercedes-Benz SUVs at speeds exceeding 70 mph. Grossman failed to return to the scene or render aid to the boys.
In a letter to the judge, Grossman pleaded for leniency, expressing the pain and suffering she has endured. "I am not a murderer, and I ask you to recognize that true fact," she wrote. "My pain, my recognition of the pain the Iskanders suffer, and the pain I watch my family endure, are punishments that I already suffer and will for the rest of my life."
Grossman has already served 111 days in jail and paid nearly $50,000 in restitution. Her sentence serves as a stark reminder that wealth and status do not exempt individuals from the consequences of their actions, especially when they result in the loss of innocent lives.
[Source: Fox News]
