Grossman could receive a sentence of up to 34 years to life in state prison if she is convicted as charged, the DA's office said. Grossman, 58, prior to being named a suspect in the Iskanders' case was also allegedly involved in another speeding accident. Sheriffs deputies had previously clocked her speed as exceeding 80 miles per hour just seconds before. According to the sheriff's department, after the collision, it appears one of the boys was carried for more than a hundred feet down the road on the hood of the car. She has not been actually charged with DUI. 'I still see it every night. He also alleges that his investigators have determined that Grossman was traveling at just under 52 mph when she struck the boys, according to Law and Crime. The killing of my sons were indirect consequences of those extremely reckless actions that basically used the car as a weapon, the childrens father, Karim Iskander, said in Aprils preliminary hearing. According to her lawyer, previous reports about the incident have been inaccurate. 6 Injured In Downtown Los Angeles Stabbing: Police, LA County Library: Celebrate Csar Chvez, UCLA: UCLA Health Receives $25.3 Million For Street Medicine Program Caring For Homeless. Inside LA millionaire's wealth as son, 17, is charged in Monique Munoz's death. Justice for Mark and Jacob Iskander.'. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Our sympathies are with all who have been affected.". } Investigators say alcohol and street racing may have played a part in the collision. A Change.org petition was started after the Iskander boys' deaths, demanding for Grossman to be "prosecuted and sentenced to the fullest extent of the law and that she face serious consequences for her actions that took away the lives of Mark and Jacob.". The Iskander brothers had been walking across a crosswalk with their parents and two siblings, Zackary and Violet, when they were struck. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ } Have a tip we should know? Date Set For Agoura Great Race, Registration Open, New Brush Clearance Expectations Set For Agoura Hills Homeowners, Modernization Projects, TK Expansion Planned For Agoura Hills Schools. Mark and Jacob were in a marked crosswalk with their mother, Nancy Iskander, and younger brother Zachary, then 5. The rate of vehicle traffic, as well as pedestrian traffic, combined with the high speed limit were of such a nature that the crosswalk should have not existed without traffic device enhancements to provide warning of pedestrians using the intersection.. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 'I heard a really loud noise, I looked back and I either felt or saw the other car speeding also,' Iskander said. Nancy Iskander and her husband Karim leave Van Nuys Courthouse during a lunch break from a preliminary hearing for Rebecca Grossman, who is charged with murder and other counts stemming from a . Mark Iskander, 11, (left) died at the scene while his nine-year-old brother, Jacob (right), died in hospital a few hours later +10 DailyMail.com has learned Grossman was also involved in an accident in 2012 during which the other driver claimed she ran a red light while driving 65mph in a 40mph zone and plowed into the back of his car. Grossmans attorney doesnt deny that his client was behind the wheel of the car that struck the boys but said that wasnt enough to warrant the severe charges. The brothers were identified by friends and by the Acorn newspaper as 9-year-old Jacob Iskander and 11-year-old Mark. One boy died at the scene, and the other died at the hospital. Grossman entered the Van Nuys courtroom Monday, being charged with two counts of murder and two counts of vehicular manslaughter. Lawyers for the Los Angeles woman who struck and killed two young brothers in a crosswalk as she was allegedly engaged in a race with another driver says that the citys failure to make the intersection safer is one of the primary causes of the boys deaths. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Rebecca Grossman, co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, arrives at Van Nuys Courthouse for her preliminary hearing. It is unfathomable to me how the state thinks it can prosecute someone while it is at the same time being sued for recklessness, and negligence for the very same incident.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The September 29 incident killed 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander, who were in a marked crosswalk in Westlake Village with their parents and siblings when Grossman allegedly slammed into them. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' The Grossman Burn Foundation is the "philanthropic arm" of the Grossman Burn Centers, which were founded by Rebecca Grossman's father-in-law, according to the website. Grossmans lawyer, Tony Buzbee, claims that the primary cause of the crash wasn't his clients allegedly unsafe driving, but a dangerous pedestrian crosswalk. During Breathalyzer tests, Grossman blew a .075 and then .076 (under Californias legal limit of .08). There was inadequate and unsafe sight lines and sight distances for drivers traveling through the intersection (which) lacks traffic control or warning devices necessary to prevent the intersection from being a concealed trap for pedestrians, the suit against the city stated, according to the Acorn. And that hate stems from believing everything thats been put out there about who I am: that I have no remorse, that Im this monster, that this hasnt affected my life, that I just go about my every day as if this never happened. On Sept. 29, 2020, Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8, had tried to cross Triunfo Canyon Road at Saddle Mountain Drive when they were hit by a passing car, killing them both. "After allegedly striking the children, Grossman allegedly continued driving, eventually stopping about one-quarter mile away from the scene when her car engine cutoff," the DA said. Update: The Iskander family has been overwhelmed by all the love and support they have received from everyone. Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. We at Sweet Lawyers wish them strength and comfort during this difficult time. 57, struck and killed nine year-old Jacob Iskander . There is a lot of hate and anger out there, Grossman told, Nancy Iskander said anyone who wants to support Mark and Jacobs legacy can do so through the charity founded in their memory with the Ventura County Community Foundation, the Ventura County Star reported. Additionally, she is being held on a 2 million dollar bail. Investigators had cordoned off a crosswalk with crime scene tape, and a scooter and a set of roller blades were seen nearby the crash location after the collision. All rights reserved. She told the news outlet she plans to mark the occasion by going out to dinner with her husband and their two surviving children. A Southern California community is mourning two brothers, ages 11 and 9, after they were struck and killed by a driver in suburban Los Angeles County, according to authorities. Learn more about the foundation's orphanage, programs for impoverished youth, and support for foster children. If convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in prison. Iskander was horrified to find Jacob lying in the roadway 'as if he was sleeping,' and her other son Mark had been on the hood of Grossman's vehicle, which kept going after the crash. Buzbee said that the city engineer had determined the crossing was on a blind curve, but told Law and Crime the city took no action. 'We demand that Grossman is prosecuted and sentenced to the fullest extent of the law and that she face serious consequences for her actions that took away the lives of Mark and Jacob. Mark was faithful and never forgot to remember his friends and family in his prayers. Nancy Iskander, the boys' mother, narrowly saved one of her younger children, who was riding a scooter, as well as her youngest child, who was in a baby stroller, but couldnt grab Jacob or Mark in time. eventAction: 'load' The six members of the Iskander family were walking in a crosswalk when the parents heard racing vehicles. gads_event = event; When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? Grossman admitted to responding officers that she had a margarita about two hours before the collision, as seen in officers body-worn camera footage played at Aprils preliminary hearing. ga('ads.send', { Instead, she was cooperative and police with the investigating officers.. The hearing will end with Samuels determining whether to move forward with bringing the criminal case to trial or to dismiss the charges. hitType: 'event', The video of the tragic incident is in possession of authorities and investigators had noted alcohol and street racing could've been contributing factors leading to the incident. Authorities said the brothers were hit by a car in front of their parents and siblings as they crossed the street Tuesday night at Triunfo Canyon Road and Saddle Mountain Drive in Westlake Village. Two other children are said to have been pulled out of harm's way. Grossman allegedly kept driving after striking the children, only stopping a quarter-mile away because her engine cut off, authorities have said. RELATED:Electrocution Deaths Of Wisconsin Couple Linked To Dangerous Viral Art TikTok Trend. It haunts me every night,' Iskander said, once again having to relive the nightmare of losing her children. They managed to pull two of their children to safety but Jacob and Mark eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The boys' father, Karim Iskander, said Mark had "the sweetest heart ever," and would "spread sincere appreciation and laughter." We are deeply devastated by the heartbreaking loss of Mark and Jacob Iskander. The driverof the black car has since been charged with misdemeanor reckless drivingand his case remains pending. We pray daily for the family, their loved ones, and the community. Traveling over the posted speed limit is simply not murder, no matter how the DA attempts to twist the facts for his own purposes.. Her husband, Karim Iskander, went ahead on a jog, carrying their youngest child, Violet. 11-year-old Mark and 9-year-old Jacob Iskander were run down on the road while their parents watched in horror, according to People. }); According to FR24 News, the boys parents, Karim and Nancy Iskander, were walking with their four children at the time of the crash. The boys' mother broke down in tears on the stand as she testified that on the day of the crash, she was walking with the two boys as well as their 5-year-old brother in the crosswalk when she heard loud engines and suddenly saw two SUVs hurtling toward them. A scuffed copy of the Koran. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Grossman is headed back to court on January 7 and Samuels said, "I want you and your new attorney here." The rest of the six-member family escaped injury. Buzbee also said that his investigators have preliminary determined from at least two sources that Grossman was traveling at just under 52 miles per hour when she struck the boys, a significantly slower speed than what prosecutors have alleged. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ Nancy Iskander, Mark and Jacob's mother, has repeatedly complained about delays in the court proceedings, saying they represent more than two years of her family's suffering. She finally pulled over a mile and a half away. Over 18 months after a hit-and-run crash killed her 11-year-old son Mark and 8-year-old son Jacob, Iskander appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday to testify in the preliminary. Thats just not true.. THE LIFE of Mark and Jacob Iskander was cut short in September 2020 after they were involved in a hit-and-run accident. }); "Did anyone come back to the scene indicating they were the drivers of those cars?" The Los Angeles socialite accused of mowing down two brothers at a crosswalk in 2020 has pleaded not guilty to the charges. More information is available at. Two brothers, Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 9, were struck and killed by a drunk driver as they crossed the street in a crosswalk on Tuesday, September 29th in Westlake Village. }) Grossman was allegedly street-racing with Erickson; witnesses say she tailed Ericksons SUV just before he swerved to avoid hitting the Iskanders, leaving no time for Grossman to stop. Who is James Khuri? Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 8, were with their family Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, when they were struck and killed in Westlake Village by a Mercedes driven by Rebecca Grossman, the chairwoman of . A sheriffs deputy testified that mark was thrown 254 feet. The Iskander family filed a lawsuit against the state of California, L.A. County and Westlake Village in August 2021, The Acorn reported, alleging that the intersection where the boys was killed was dangerously defective and acted as a trap for pedestrians. Grossman told officers, I was driving, and all of a sudden, my airbag went off, footage showed. "It was the pandemic. "Thousands of lives have been impacted by this tragedy - two, innocent and loving, young boys with their entire life ahead of them were taken away by the complete and intentional disregard for human life, gross negligence, and selfish actions of Grossman," the petition says. The parents told cops that when they heard Grossman's white Mercedes approaching at speed, they reached out to protect their children, but could only grab the closest, Zackary and Violet. Rebecca Grossman, 58, is accused of barreling her Mercedes Benz at speeds of up to 81 mph toward the Iskander family, killing brothers Jacob and Mark, ages 8 and 11, in the residential area of Westlake Village, California. Grossman is the co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation. Jacob Iskander would have turned 11 on this coming Friday, his mother Nancy Iskander told the Ventura County Star after Tuesday's hearing. Mark, age 11, was gifted in math and science. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, If Grossman didn't have money and connections, she would have been in custody all this time instead of free on bailIt's time she was put behind bars, where she belongs. The city was repeatedly asked to upgrade and make the crosswalk safer. Buzbee emphasized that Grossman was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, which was suspected in early reports. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. ADVERTISEMENT According to several local reports, including those from CBS Los Angeles, the Sacramento Bee, and KNBC, Rebecca Grossman, 57, is Why is Rebecca Grossman's case DELAYED again? Hearing Held For Socialite Accused Of Killing Two Boys, The murder trial of a Los Angeles socialite accused of hitting and killing two brothers in a crosswalk could start asearly as this spring, according to the, has pleaded not guilty to felony murder, vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run driving in the Sept. 29, 2020 deaths of Jacob Iskander, 8, and his brother Mark Iskander, 11, according to previous, Grossman allegedly reached speeds of up to 81 miles per hour in her Mercedes Benz before hitting the brothers as they walked with their parents and siblings in a crosswalk along Triunfo Canyon Road in Westlake Village northwest of Los Angeles, according to previous. Socialite ran over Iskander kids in 2020. Mark and Jacob Iskander. An attorney for Grossman could not be immediately identified by PEOPLE and it is not clear if she has entered a plea at this time. When she turned, she saw Jacob lying in the roadway "as if he was sleeping," but Mark was nowhere to be found. The 57-year-old was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter for running over the kids aged 11 and 9. 'We can't keep continuing this. When Grossman eventually hit the brakes, they believe the boy rolled off into the street, and then Grossman ran over him, leaving the scene. 2023 www.vcstar.com. Nancy Iskander said anyone who wants to support Mark and Jacobs legacy can do so through the charity founded in their memory with the Ventura County Community Foundation, the Ventura County Star reported. Buzbee said that the city engineer had determined that the crossing was on a blind curve, but still the city did not take action. Rebecca Grossman, 59, has pleaded not guilty to felony murder, vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run driving in the Sept. 29, 2020 deaths of Jacob Iskander, 8, and his brother Mark. Dozens gathered in Westlake Village Wednesday evening to remember two brothers, ages 9 and 11, killed in a horrific car crash that may have involved drinking and street racing. Please know that along with Rebecca Grossman, we remain heartbroken and grieve deeply for the parents of Mark and Jacob Iskander. 2. Back at the September 14 trial, she said in court, "We can't keep continuing this. Both children were pronounced dead that night. Rebecca Grossmans lawyers now allege the citys failure to make the intersection safer is the primary reason for the boys deaths, according to Law and Crime. The family is suffering. Mark's third-grade teacher Kristen Rowlands remembered her student as having an "outgoing passion" paired with "smarts," adding that his younger brother was full of confidence and "so much joy," the Thousand Oaks Acorn reported. She ordered the socialite to find someone who would to be prepared for a preliminary trial "no later than March" 2022. If you had the great joy of enjoying a conversation with Mark, there was likely mention of reptiles or ice hockey -- two passions he championed proudly. The vehicle's driver, 57-year-old, Rebecca Grossman, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, racing, and fleeing the scene of the crime. Karim and Nancy Iskander parents of Mark and Jacob Iskander leave Los Angeles Superior Court Monday after a hearing for Rebecca Grossman, who is accused of killing their two children as they were crossing the street in Westlake Village. let gads_event; The vigil program will have speakers which include Nancy Iskander, Ascension Lutheran Church and School, Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church, Ventura County . Liked by Stephane Mesaros Sadly, as is typical for a neglectful government, nine days after the accident in this case, the city finally acted when it allocated $250,000 to install flashing lights at this crossing, Grossmans attorney said. Mothers and homemakers were spotted wearing T-shirts with a picture of the young victims, Jacob, 9, and Mark Iskander, 11, as they protested outside the courtroom in Van Nuys on March 16. She told the news outlet she plans to mark the occasion by going out to dinner with her husband and their two surviving children. The second boy was taken to a local hospital where he died a few hours later, the sheriff's office said. Representatives for the city of Westlake Village did not immediately respond to Law&Crimes request for comment. After the deaths of the boys, the city allocated $250,000 to install flashing lights at the crossing, according to Buzbee and Law and Crime. The city was told time after time that someone would be killed if measures were not taken. Speed and alcohol cited as contributing factors. Grossmans attorney, Tony Buzbee, released a statement claiming the incident was a tragic accident," laying the blame on the city of Westlake Village for having a crosswalk that was poorly marked, unguarded, and unlit.. hitType: 'event', Man Arrested for Allegedly Running Over and Killing Pastor Delivering Toys to Shelter for Christmas, Cousin of Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Dies from Cardiac Arrest After Being Tased by Los Angeles Police, Nurse Charged with 6 Counts of Murder in L.A. Jeffrey Hammer had claimed that Grossman ran a red light while driving 65 miles in a 40 mile per hour zone and landed into the back of his car, according to a Daily Mail article. The Iskander family, along with Residents of Westlake Village, California have been mourning the loss of two beautiful children for over two years. She had blasted Grossman in September for not showing up to five previously scheduled court appearances after which she ordered her to show up in court on December 1. Several witnesses will testify this morning with a decision expected later today. Police claim that when the boys were hit by her car, Grossman was driving over the 45mph speed limit and may have been racing with her friend and near-neighbor, World Series-winning pitcher Scott Erickson, 54, while the two were on their way to the same house party. She was paid $100,000 insurance with an additional $15,000 in repairs for her Mercedes. I pray for every mom whos lost a son, she said, according to the Star. Sign up to receive news and updates about all of the good that your support makes possible! He died at the scene. After only two years of arriving to Canada from Croatia, we were in a car accident at age 14 I was orphaned.<br><br>Upon graduating from University of Ottawa I was drafted to play in the Canadian Football League.<br><br>At TK Financial we create strategic solutions combining Life Insurance and Estate Planning strategies that are time-tested and proven.<br><br>We have uncovered millions of . Clayton said he saw Grossman drink a margarita at the restaurant, but he did not join her when she droveto a residenceto watch the 2020 presidential debate.