A Southern California socialite was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in prison for the hit-and-run deaths of two young brothers in a crosswalk more than three years ago. Authorities said Rebecca Grossman, wife of a prominent Los Angeles burn doctor, fatally struck Mark Iskander, 11, and brother Jacob, 8, while speeding, the AP reports. A Los Angeles jury in February found Rebecca Grossman guilty on all counts: Two felony counts each of second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death.
Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino sentenced her to two concurrent 15-years-to-life sentences, plus three years for fleeing the scene of the fatal crash that would run concurrently with the two other sentences, the Los Angeles Times reports. The judge called Grossman's actions "reckless and unquestionably negligent." Prosecutors, who cited the 60-year-old's "blatant disregard for human life," had sought a sentence of 34 years to life, reports NBC News.
The deadly crash occurred on the evening of Sept. 29, 2020, in Westlake Village, a city on the western edge of Los Angeles County. Prosecutors presented evidence that the data recorder in Grossman's white Mercedes showed she was speeding at up to 81 mph and tapped her brakes, slowing to 73 mph, less than two seconds before a collision that set off her airbags. Prosecutors said she was racing former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson after having cocktails with him. A reckless driving charge against Erickson was dropped after he made a public service announcement about safe driving. (More hit-and-run stories.)
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