Los Angeles socialite Rebecca Grossman, who was convicted of a hit-and-run that killed two young brothers, is now facing accusations of conspiring from behind bars to secure a new trial. Grossman was found guilty on all counts for the September 2020 crash that claimed the lives of 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander. Prosecutors allege that she has been contacting her husband and daughter from jail in an attempt to influence witnesses, the jury, the judge, and her ex-lover. The Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorneys have filed a motion providing evidence of the calls made by Grossman to her husband and daughter.
Grossman is believed to have asked her husband and daughter to track down key individuals involved in the case, with the intention of swaying Judge Joseph Brandolino into granting her a new trial. Additionally, she allegedly instructed her daughter to publicly release a body-camera video that had been sealed by Judge Brandolino. The parents of the two young boys who were killed have received a letter from Grossman, leading them to request that she be prohibited from contacting them.
At least two jurors have reported being contacted by a private investigator named Paul Stuckey, who allegedly failed to disclose whom he was working for. The source of the jurors’ contact information is unclear, but it is suspected that it may have come from a pre-sealing jury list, which is a violation of both jury tampering and illegal possession of juror information.
In response to these allegations, deputies are seeking to restrict Grossman’s visitors to only those on her legal team, as well as to have her mail checked. It has been claimed that Grossman has been using her phone privileges in ways that may constitute illegal conduct. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Grossman had been racing her ex-MLB lover, Scott Erickson, after consuming alcohol. The devastation caused by Grossman’s actions was immense, with one of the brothers being thrown over 250 feet upon impact.
Prosecutors presented evidence indicating that Grossman was speeding at 81 mph and had tapped her brakes to slow down to 73 mph just seconds before the collision. The boys’ mother, Nancy Iskander, narrowly avoided being hit along with her youngest son. Despite the evidence against her, Grossman denied responsibility for the boys’ deaths. Grossman now faces the possibility of 34 years to life in prison.
The case highlights the potential for convicted individuals to engage in illicit behavior from behind bars, using their connections to influence the legal process. These allegations raise questions about the adequacy of measures taken to prevent such misconduct and the need to ensure defendants are held accountable for their actions even while in custody. As the legal proceedings progress, authorities will continue to investigate and take the necessary steps to safeguard the integrity of the trial and protect the rights of those involved.