A rich woman from California, who co-founded a burn center foundation in the Los Angeles vicinity, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Monday forally striking two children in a hit-run incident over three years ago.
Rebecca Grossman was speeding when she hit and killed 11-year-old Mark Isk and his 8-year-old brother Jacob they were walking in a crosswalk in Westlake Village, a city near Los Angeles, on September , 2020.
Pic of Mark and Jacob IRK
“The death of these two innocent children has deeply affected their family and our community. Ms. Grossman’s reckless disregard for human life serves as a somber reminder of the severe consequences of irresponsible driving,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in a statement.
A jury in February found Grossman guilty of two counts of second-degree murder two counts of vehicularl mansaughter with gross, and one count hit-and-run driving in death.
Grossman now 60, was driving at high speed behind a car driven by former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, who was her lover at the time, when she struck and killed the boys, according to prosecutors. Erickson was not charged.
Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of 34 years to life in prison.
Nancy Iskander, the mother of the boys, expressed during Monday’s sentencing that Grossman has shown no regret for taking the lives of her two sons, according to NBC Los Angeles.
In her letter to the judge, Grossman maintained that she is not a murderer and insisted she did not see anyone or anything in the road. She emphasized, “As God is my witness, I did not see anyone or anything in the road,” NBC Los Angeles reported. “I swear to you, I would have driven my car into a tree to avoid hitting two little boys.”
Grossman, together with her husband Dr. Peter H. Grossman, co-established the Grossman Burn Foundation. This charitable organization is a branch of the Grossman Burn Centers, originally founded by Dr. A. Richard Grossman, who is Peter Grossman’s father.
Allen Castellano, the chief of the county sheriff’s North Patrol Division, mentioned in a statement that he hoped the sentencing would offer some solace to the family.
“This individual demonstrated a total lack of concern for the lives and safety of others in our community through her irresponsible behavior, which ultimately devastated a family and deprived two children of their promising futures,” he stated.
