Socialite Rebecca Grossman Found Guilty on All Counts in Tragic Westlake Village Hit-and-Run Case

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. – Rebecca Grossman, a prominent socialite, has been convicted of murder and other charges in connection with a tragic incident in 2020 that resulted in the deaths of two young boys. A Los Angeles County jury found the 60-year-old guilty on all five counts, which include two counts of murder and two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. She was also convicted of one felony count of hit-and-run driving.

The trial lasted for several days, during which Deputy District Attorney Ryan Gould argued that Grossman struck 11-year-old Mark Iskander and his 8-year-old brother, Jacob, with her speeding white Mercedes-Benz SUV. According to Gould, she was driving at an excessive speed and was impaired. The boys were hit while crossing a marked crosswalk, and Grossman failed to stop at the scene.

Following the verdict, the parents of Mark and Jacob, Nancy and Karim Iskander, expressed their relief at finally receiving closure after more than three years. Nancy Iskander emphasized that she did not have hatred towards Grossman, expressing sympathy for the woman’s children and acknowledging the tragic nature of the situation.

On the other hand, Grossman’s defense attorneys contended that she was not responsible for the fatal collision. Tony Buzbee, the lead defense attorney, alleged that the authorities hastily accused Grossman without conducting a thorough investigation. Buzbee claimed that another individual, Scott Erickson, who was an alleged love interest of Grossman at the time, was actually responsible for the crash.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence suggesting that Grossman was speeding at 81 mph in a 45-mph zone just moments before the collision. They also cited data from the vehicle’s black box, which indicated that Grossman was driving at 73 mph at the time of impact. Buzbee, however, argued that Grossman was driving at a maximum of 52 mph, placing the blame on Erickson.

Following the announcement of the verdict, Grossman was immediately taken into custody. The defense attorney’s request for her to remain free before sentencing was denied by the judge. Grossman is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10 and could face up to 34 years to life in state prison.

This tragic incident has left a lasting impact on the Iskander family, who have finally found some closure through the jury’s decision. The trial has shed light on the details surrounding the accident and sparked debates about accountability and responsibility in cases involving fatal collisions.