A socialite who killed two boys in an L.A. hit-and-run is sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The two little brothers that died in a Los Angeles crossing in 2020 were the cause of the sentencing handed down on Monday: a wealthy California socialite and philanthropist named Rebecca Grossman received a 15-year to life term. On two counts of murder, vehicular manslaughter, and gross negligence in the deaths of Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 8, as well as one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death, Grossman, 60, was found guilty by a jury in February.
Advocates for the maximum punishment of 34 years to life had been made. George Gascón, the district attorney for Los Angeles County, expressed his disappointment with the verdict on Monday. Grossman was mandated to reimburse the victims' relatives $47,161.89 in restitution.
Throughout the trial and sentencing, Grossman—who together with her husband, Peter, is a well-known plastic surgeon and burn specialist in Los Angeles—maintained that she did not see the two boys as they crossed the street in a designated crosswalk with their parents. She was allegedly travelling through Westlake Village at "excessive speeds," according to a statement made by the police at the time. After the collision, they claimed, she kept driving and eventually pulled over a quarter of a mile away.
Chief Allen Castellano of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department stated on Monday, "Through her reckless actions, this individual showed a complete disregard for the lives and safety of others in our community, which ultimately shattered a family and robbed two children of their bright futures."
Prosecutors had urged for the maximum punishment in a presentencing brief, accusing Grossman of exhibiting a "narcissistic superiority" and claiming that she had neither expressed regret nor taken ownership of the tragedy.
They stated, "She has clearly felt that her wealth and notoriety would buy her freedom and has lived a life of privilege." "I am so sorry that I was portrayed as a monster to you," Grossman wrote in a letter to the boys' parents that was included as an exhibit in the prosecution's sentencing petition. For the rest of my life, I will never forget this moment that changed my life. Each and every day. I still get nightmares. She said that her earlier attempts to apologise had been "redacted."
James Spertus, Grossman's lawyer, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The data recorder in Grossman's Mercedes SUV revealed that she sped to 81 mph with her foot pushed to the floor just seconds before the collision, according to evidence the prosecution presented during the trial. In the residential neighbourhood, 45 mph was the speed limit.
According to Investigator Michael Hale's testimony, the boys were struck by her SUV with a force comparable to that of a vehicle being dropped from a 12-story building. Although Grossman had no prior convictions, the prosecution's sentencing statement listed several driving infractions, including speeding, that occurred in the early 2000s. Experts testified that she was likely mentally and physically incapacitated during the trial, which included allegations that she had taken Valium and consumed at least two margaritas earlier in the day. Before the collision, she allegedly drove erratically and at high speeds, even swerving into the bicycle lane in an attempt to pass a car, according to multiple witnesses.
According to the prosecution, she seemed to be engaging in "a deadly game of chase" with her boyfriend at the time, Scott Erickson, the driver of a black Mercedes. "Our community and their family have been saddened by the death of these two innocent souls. In a statement, Gascón stated, "Ms. Grossman's flagrant disregard for human life is a stark reminder of the grave consequences of irresponsible behaviour behind the wheel."
