Socialite Killer Rebecca Grossman Requests Prison Visit from Mother of Slain Boys
In a shocking development, convicted murderer Rebecca Grossman has written an appalling letter to Nancy Iskander, the mother of the two young brothers she killed with her Mercedes, pleading for her to arrange a prison visit. The 67-year-old socialite, currently serving a 15-years-to-life sentence, asked Iskander to visit her at the California Institution for Women "to see the circumstances she is in."
Grossman Portrays Herself as Victim in Letter
Astonishingly, Grossman also wrote that she considers herself "a victim," according to Iskander, in what appears to be another refusal to accept responsibility for murdering eight-year-old Jacob Iskander and his 11-year-old brother Mark. The fatal hit-and-run occurred in Ventura, California in 2020 while Grossman was allegedly racing her former Major League Baseball star lover Scott Erickson home from a boozy lunch.
"I'm still trying to process how someone could make such a request," Iskander wrote on social media platform X. "While I can only imagine how difficult her life behind bars must be, the truth is this: I would trade places with her in a heartbeat. I would live in any prison cell, under any conditions, for the rest of my life… if it meant my beautiful boys could be alive again."
Civil Wrongful Death Lawsuit Proceeds
Iskander and her husband Karim are due to face Grossman in court again soon for the civil wrongful death lawsuit they brought against both Grossman and Erickson. Jury selection began in the high-profile suit this week, with the civil trial expected to last approximately two months. This follows Grossman's criminal conviction in February 2024 for two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit and run resulting in death.
The case centers on a devastating night in September 2020 in Westlake Village, where the Iskander family was crossing a marked crosswalk on Triunfo Canyon Road. Nancy Iskander testified during the criminal trial that she heard engines roaring as two vehicles sped toward them. She managed to grab her youngest child and leap to safety, but Mark and Jacob, who were walking just ahead, were struck by Grossman's Mercedes SUV.
Prosecutors Detail Reckless Behavior
Prosecutors presented evidence showing Grossman was driving at speeds reaching 81 mph in a 45 mph zone when she plowed through the crosswalk. She continued driving for roughly half a mile after the impact before her vehicle shut down. At sentencing, prosecutors argued the force of the crash was comparable to a Mercedes falling from a 12-story building, illustrating the extreme violence inflicted on the two boys.
Grossman's defense team argued on appeal that the evidence supported, at most, a manslaughter conviction, claiming prosecutors failed to prove "implied malice," the legal standard required for second-degree murder. However, an appellate court rejected that argument last month, leaving her convictions intact.
Erickson's Role and Grossman's Background
Erickson, who had allegedly been racing Grossman in his black Mercedes after the two shared cocktails, received only a misdemeanor reckless driving charge that was dismissed after he made a public service announcement to high school students about safe driving. In new trial documents, he has declared Grossman the "negligent cause" of the fatal incident and tried to distance himself from his former lover.
The case drew intense public attention not only for its tragic facts but also for Grossman's high-profile life. Before her arrest, she was known for her philanthropic work with the Grossman Burn Foundation, tied to medical centers founded by her husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Peter H. Grossman. The couple lived in an affluent Hidden Hills neighborhood and moved in elite social circles.
Grossman remains behind bars at the state prison in San Bernardino County and will likely be elderly if ever released. Her legal team has indicated they may request a final review from the California Supreme Court, while the Iskander family continues to seek justice through the civil court system.
