Grossman Trial Opens With Racing Allegations in Boys' Deaths

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Rebecca Grossman and her then-boyfriend were racing their vehicles while intoxicated when her SUV struck and killed two young brothers in a marked crosswalk, an attorney for the boys' parents told jurors Friday as the high-profile trial opened in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The allegations center on a September 2020 collision that claimed the lives of Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother Jacob, 8, as they crossed the street with their family in Westlake Village, a suburban community northwest of Los Angeles. Grossman, a socialite and co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, faces multiple felony charges including two counts of murder.

Racing and Intoxication Alleged

Opening statements painted a picture of reckless behavior preceding the fatal crash. The attorney representing the Iskander family told the jury that Grossman and her ex-boyfriend were engaged in street racing at the time of the collision, according to the Los Angeles Times. Both drivers were allegedly intoxicated when Grossman's vehicle struck the two boys in the crosswalk.

The prosecution's theory suggests the racing created dangerous conditions that made the collision inevitable. Prosecutors must prove that Grossman acted with implied malice — a conscious disregard for human life — to secure murder convictions rather than lesser vehicular manslaughter charges.

The Iskander Family's Loss

Mark and Jacob Iskander were crossing the street with their parents and siblings on the evening of September 29, 2020, when they were struck. The boys died at the scene despite immediate efforts by first responders and bystanders. The family had been out for an evening walk in their neighborhood when the tragedy occurred.

The case has drawn significant attention in Southern California, both because of the victims' ages and Grossman's prominent standing in Los Angeles philanthropic circles. The Grossman Burn Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband, has provided medical care and support to burn survivors for decades.

Legal Stakes and Charges

Grossman faces two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death. If convicted on the murder counts, she could face 30 years to life in prison. The murder charges require prosecutors to demonstrate that Grossman knew her actions were dangerous to human life but proceeded anyway.

Defense attorneys are expected to challenge the racing allegations and argue that the collision was a tragic accident rather than an act of implied malice. The identity and potential charges against Grossman's alleged racing partner have not been disclosed in available court filings.

What Comes Next

The trial is expected to last several weeks as prosecutors present evidence including accident reconstruction, toxicology results, and witness testimony. The Iskander family's attorney indicated that multiple witnesses observed the events leading up to the collision, though specific testimony has not yet been presented.

Vehicular homicide cases involving allegations of street racing have resulted in murder convictions in California when prosecutors successfully demonstrate conscious disregard for life. A 2021 case in Los Angeles County resulted in a 90-years-to-life sentence for a driver convicted of murder after a street race killed a woman and her infant daughter.

What we know: Opening statements allege Rebecca Grossman and her ex-boyfriend were street racing while intoxicated when her vehicle struck and killed two brothers, ages 8 and 11, in a Westlake Village crosswalk in September 2020. Grossman faces murder charges that require proof of implied malice. What's unclear: The full evidence supporting the racing allegations, toxicology results, the identity of the alleged racing partner, and whether that individual faces charges have not been detailed in available reporting. The defense's counter-narrative has not yet been presented.