It haunts me every night," Iskander said. Rebecca Grossman Grossman accepts the Betty Fisher Legacy Award at Evening of Hope 2017 at Sheraton Universal on May 18, 2017 in Universal City, California. The six members of the Iskander family were walking in a crosswalk when the parents heard racing vehicles. 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. But despite the severity of the crimes she's accused of, she's been free on bail since being charged two days after the tragedy. 'I heard a really loud noise, I looked back and I either felt or saw the other car speeding also,' Iskander said. Toxic trauma expert Gabor Mate diagnoses Prince Harry with attention deficit disorder but tells him it CAN 'I felt different to the rest of my family - and my mum felt the same': Prince Harry opens up on his 'broken 'He's completely beige drained of all his feisty ginger life-blood': JULIE BURCHILL'S verdict on Prince Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. Emailus. Crash that Killed Pregnant Mom, 4 Others Was Involved in 13 Prior Wrecks: Prosecutors, Driver Charged with DWI and Murder Allegedly Smirked as He Ran Over Boy, 6, Multiple Times: Grandfather. 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. 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. Grossman and her husband are the founders of the Grossman Burn Foundation, which seeks "to promote effective, sustainable partnership solutions for the comprehensive treatment, care, and support of burn survivors and their families in the United States and around the world," according to the organization's website. I pray for every mom whos lost a son, she said, according to the Star. On the evening of September 29, Mark and Jacob Iskander of Westlake Village lost their lives at the hand of a suspected DUI driver while crossing a crosswalk south of Westlake lake. Mark was 11, and Jacob was 9. }); Investigators said street racing may have been involved in the crash, which happened at the intersection of Triunfo Canyon Road and Saddle Mountain Drive, The Iskander brothers had been walking across a crosswalk with their parents and two siblings, Zackary and Violet, when they were struck, The brothers are pictured in this undated school photos. The Los Angeles socialite accused of mowing down two brothers at a crosswalk in 2020 has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Have a tip or story idea? Loved ones are asking residents to send holiday cards to the family of Mark and Jacob Iskander, two young brothers who were fatally struck by a car in Westlake Village in 2020. [I]f someone gets killed I hope the family knows that this has been reported repeatedly and sues the city for negligence, said another, according to Buzbee. 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. At a hearing in March, Judge Shellie Samuels apologized to the victims' patents, Nancy and Karim Iskander, for the many continuances and postponement in the case, the most recent of which was Grossman's need to look for and hire a new lawyer after her previous attorney fell ill. 'This case has taken way too long,' said the judge. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The park carries special meaning for the Iskander family because it was the boys' neighborhood playground. ga('ads.send', { She managed to take her 5-year-old son to safety after hearing engine roars and two SUVs driving toward them, but she found her older sons almost dead. } Our family is super excited and invites you to visit the Mark We are ready to welcome children in the newly built Mark and Jacob Iskander Orphanage! Ventura County Star The Westlake Village City Council unanimously voted Thursday to add blinking crosswalk lights to an intersection where two young boys were killed in a traffic accident the week before. Grossman was driving a Mercedes-Benz SUV. Brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 8, were walking with their parents and siblings in Westlake Village, California, in September 2020 when they were struck and killed The Iskander. Loved ones are asking residents to send holiday cards to the family of Mark and Jacob Iskander, two young brothers who were fatally struck by a car in Westlake Village in 2020.Mark was 11 and Jacob 8. EXCLUSIVE: LA socialite Rebecca Grossman FINALLY makes court Charles 'will NEVER build real relationship with Archie and Lili unless Harry and Meghan get new royal A 14-year-old autistic boy's naive prank. All rights reserved. In fact, that particular crosswalk had been the subject of scores of citizen complaints for many years, Buzbee stated. It was not immediately clear if she had an attorney. 'I still see it every night. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Once her testimony finished, Iskander was cross-examined by Grossman's attorney Alan Eisner. Iskander said she waved frantically to try to get the drivers' attention before pushing her 5-year-old son out of the way. Buzbee noted that the Iskander family have sued the City of Westlake and the State of California, alleging that the crossing was a substantial factor in the deaths of their sons. The sheriff's department said they arrested 57-year-old Rebecca Grossman for vehicular manslaughter and DUI. LA millionaire covers up for son, 17, who drove $200K Lamborghini and killed Monique Munoz, What is James Khuri's net worth? Rebecca Grossman was arraigned Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court and charged with two felony counts each of murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced. Thats just not true.. These victims lost two children - it's detrimental to them that this is taking so long." She ordered the socialite to find someone who would to be prepared for a preliminary trial "no later than March" 2022. The victims were Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 8. It's GRAYGATE! The prosecutions insistence on overcharging my client, a pillar of this community, with murder is nothing more than a transparent effort to force her to plea that is impeding progress in this case.. Authorities investigating the crash in 2020. 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. A heartbroken mother wept on the stand as she tearfully described how she desperately tried to wave down Rebecca Grossman just seconds before thesocialite ran over her two sons with her Mercedes during an alleged street race. We pray daily for the family, their loved ones, and the community. Jacob and Zachary were holed up all day and wanted to get some fresh air," the mother of four said. Grossman is the co-founder and head of the Grossman Burn Foundation and is a well-known socialite in Los Angeles. 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. } 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. 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. Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8, were struck and killed by the fast-movin. Rebecca appeared on news after hitting Mark Iskander and Jacob Iskander who was born in 2009 and 2011 respectively. The boys, who were on roller skates and a skateboard at the time, were crossing a marked crosswalk with their parents, Nancy Iskander and Karim Iskander, nearby. We know his prayers continue for them in heaven. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ The hearing before Judge Shellie Samuelswas to determine whether the suspected driver in the crash, Hidden Hills resident Rebecca Grossman, 58, should be brought to trial for the charges. Law enforcement had testified that Grossman was calculated to have been driving at 71.7 miles per hour when she hit the boys. Several witnesses will testify this morning with a decision expected later today. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW, PETER HITCHENS: Now we know for sure that our leaders lost their heads over Covid. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! (Source: NBC News) 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. Additionally, she is being held on a 2 million dollar bail. asked Ryan Gould, the prosecutor in the case. Breaking crime and justice news on 'Crime Stories with Nancy Grace' Thank you! "Our community love and support, along with their tremendous faith, is whats helping their family get through this very difficult time," Cohen said in a Facebook post. Marks and Jacobs family and community will continue to grieve this horrific and tragic loss for a lifetime. On Sept. 29, 2020, Grossman was allegedly street-racing with former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson when she struck the boys before fleeing the scene. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. }); The crash occurred the evening of Sept. 29, 2020, along Triunfo Canyon Roadat the intersection with Saddle Mountain Drive in Westlake Village. ", In a statement, the Grossman Burn Center says "Like our entire community, the Grossman Burn Center family at West Hills Hospital is terribly saddened by this tragedy. Placards were left outside the courtroom in Van Nuys, California, during the hearing inside, 'These continual delays are awful for the family,' said Iskander neighbor Julie Cohen. 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.. A memorial service was held for Mark and Jacob on Oct. 7 at their school in Thousand Oaks: Ascension Lutheran School. 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. The family is suffering. It haunts me every night,' Iskander said, once again having to relive the nightmare of losing her children. Grossman, 58, kept her head down and clutched her husband's hand as she arrived at the Van Nuys courtroom on Monday. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} }); In September 2020, Rebecca Grossman ran over two boys Mark and Jacob Iskander with her Mercedes in West Lake, California. The January appearance will allow Grossman's defense to prepare for two months before a preliminary hearing where prosecution will present evidence in court. The driver, Rebecca Grossman,. On September 29, 2020, Mark and Jacob Iskander were hit and killed by a vehicle in their Southern California neighborhood while on a walk with their family. Buzbee said that the city engineer had determined that the crossing was on a blind curve, but still the city did not take action. "Did anyone come back to the scene indicating they were the drivers of those cars?" 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. pg.acq.push(function() { Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. In loving memory, their family would like to start a children's orphanage in Egypt. Grossman, 57, is accused of speeding through a crosswalk in Westlake Village on Sept. 29, striking two brothers with her car who were crossing the street with their parents at the time, the DA's office said. She told the news outlet she plans to mark the occasion by going out to dinner with her husband and their two surviving children. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. Salvador Becerra of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. A sheriffs deputy testified that mark was thrown 254 feet. Buzbee said the prosecution overcharged his client in an attempt to twist his clients arm into pleading out. }) ga('ads.send', { Find top doctors who treat Infectious Liver Disease near you in Staten Island, NY. After the first car passed, the second vehicle, a white Mercedes GLE 43, drove through the crosswalk. The brothers were identified by a local newspaper, The Acorn, as 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 9-year-old Jacob Iskander. People dropped off flowers and toys near the crosswalk close to the crash. Erickson, who won his ring in 1991 with the Minnesota Twins, has been charged with reckless driving but he has not been accused of any other offenses connected with the brothers' deaths. 1 Dead, 12 Injured After Car Runs Into Taco Stand in Pomona, Calif. The Iskander brothers had been walking across a crosswalk with their parents and two siblings, Zackary and Violet, when they were struck. eventAction: 'click_ads' We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. The 57-year-old was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter for running over the kids aged 11 and 9. She apologized to the Iskander family saying, "I'm sorry but my hands are tied." By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. The child development resource center offers these children access to fresh clothes, nutritional meals, and fun activities. Book an appointment today! More information is available at markandjacobfoundation.org. }); "I heard the engines from two SUVs coming at us at insane speeds," Iskander said. The founder of a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization has been charged with the murder of two school-aged boys in a hit-and-run in September. 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. After Iskander's testimony, four more witnesses were called to the stand. 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 Iskander, 11, according to previous Oxygen.com reporting. Grossman was arrested on two counts of vehicular manslaughter. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Grossman has pleaded not guilty. 'I heard the engines from two SUVs coming at us at insane speeds,' Iskander said. She finally pulled over a mile and a half away. [I]t is now clear that one of the primary causes of the accident, in this case, was the dangerous aspects of the pedestrian crossing where it occurred, attorney Tony Buzbee said Tuesday in a statement emailed to Law&Crime. Donations can also be made to The Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation online, which has already built an orphanage in Egypt and supports local foster children and students. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Grossman, 57, was arrested on two counts of vehicular manslaughter, the sheriff's department said. Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church of Ventura County Mark and Jacob Iskander. 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. ", "They were truly, truly awesome kids. 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. Our sympathies are with all who have been affected.". About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Have a tip we should know? The children were walking with their family when the allegedly drunk driver identified as 57-year-old Rebecca Grossman ran them over. 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. 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. 2023 www.vcstar.com. She is currently charged with two counts of murder and faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in prison if convicted, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. ga('ads.send', { 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 was allegedly street racing against former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Erickson at the time; the posted speed limit was 45 mph. 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. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Mark was 11 and Jacob 8. 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. According to the Los Angeles Times, however, the BAC (blood alcohol content) tests were administered 90 minutes after the crash. "Iheard a really loud noise, I looked back and I either felt or saw the other car speeding also," Iskander said. ', The other petition proclaimed, 'Let's push to spread awareness about this case and put Rebecca Grossman behind bars. '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. 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.. Our Freedom of Information Act requests have revealed that, despite multiple complaints from concerned citizens and many near misses, the city of Westlake Village refused on at least five occasions (2014/2017/2018/2019) to make the crossing safe, Buzbee said in a statement to Law and Crime. Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. Instead, she was cooperative and police with the investigating officers.. Sheriffs deputies had previously clocked her speed as exceeding 80 miles per hour just seconds before. let gads_event; You can also find him on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs. Grossman entered the Van Nuys courtroom Monday, being charged with two counts of murder and two counts of vehicular manslaughter. Mark and Jacob were in a marked crosswalk with their mother, Nancy Iskander, and younger brother Zachary, then 5. The hearing will end with Samuels determining whether to move forward with bringing the criminal case to trial or to dismiss the charges. Buzbee emphasized that Grossman was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, which was suspected in early reports. It is ironic that the Iskander family not only sued the City of Westlake, but also sued the state of California for their sons deaths the same entity that now is attempting to prosecute Mrs. Grossman, Buzbees statement to Law and Crime said. The Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation Fund is held with the Ventura County Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity, Federal Tax ID number: 77-0165029. 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. The Los Angeles socialite accused of mowing down two brothers at a crosswalk in 2020 has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The "Community Vigil for Mark and Jacob Iskander" is set for Thurs., Sept. 29 at the park at 3000 Three Springs Drive. Her husband, Dr. Peter Grossman, is also a plastic surgeon. The second boy was taken to a local hospital where he died a few hours later, the sheriff's office said. 'These continual delays are awful for the family. MARK & JACOB The Mark & Jacob Foundation Skip to Content Mark and Jacob are missed each and every day, but the tremendous pain of their absence is being used for a greater purpose. They want to know what happened. Mark was allegedly carried 100ft on the hood of Grossman's car before she braked, at which point he fell off the car and she ran him over again as she fled the scene, say prosecutors.