She hit and run, and that is what she did. By Sharon Lynn Pruitt eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), A civil suit filed in January 2021 against Grossman, 58, and Erickson, 53and a second one naming the state of California, its Department of Transportation, Los Angeles County, and the City of Westlake Village for unsafe crosswalk construction are also working their way through the courts. [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. Cohen, a neighbor of the Iskander family, added, "If Grossman didn't have money and connections, she would have been in custody all this time instead of free on bail. 'They were like 2 angels': Family friends, officials ID young brothers Law enforcement had testified that Grossman was calculated to have been driving at 71.7 miles per hour when she hit the boys. Rebecca Grossman in a 2014 video. Jacob and Mark's mother Nancy Iskander testified to walking with three of her sons at the crosswalk. She is presumed innocent until the government proves this case beyond a reasonable doubt. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ 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. DMCA NoticesNewspaper web site content management software and services. They were both coming at us at unbelievable speeds, she said. 'I heard the engines from two SUVs coming at us at insane speeds,' Iskander said. Despite the crimes she's accused of, she's been free on a $2 million bail since being charged two days after the tragedy. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Rebecca Grossman in a 2014 video. "I grew up in the days in Thousand Oaks when neighbors helped one another," Cohen said. Police have claimed that Grossman was driving over the 45mph speed limit and may have been racing with her friend, World Series-winning pitcher Scott Erickson, when she ran over the boys and killed them. According to its website, the Grossman Burn Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Grossman Burn Centers Inc, which treats the victims of severe burns all over the world. },false) ga('ads.send', { 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. This is a serious case. CLOSE-KNITThe Iskanders in their final photo together: parents Nancy and Karim with their sons, Zachary, Jacob and Mark; and baby daughter, Violet. pg.acq.push(function() { "All witnessed by the very eyes of the ones who love them most their parents. He can be reached at 805-437-0208, jeremy.childs@vcstar.com, andon Twitter @Jeremy_Childs. Nonprofit Co-Founder Charged With Murder In Alleged Hit-And-Run That Killed Two Young Brothers Rebecca Grossman allegedly struck Jacob and Mark Iskander, then continued driving for 100 feet with one of them on the hood of the car before he fell off and she ran over him again, according to authorities. Grossman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter after the accident, NBC Los Angeles reported, but posted her $2 million bail on October 1. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Have a tip we should know? Were thankful to judge Samuels. Mark was pronounced dead at the scene. The boys aspired to greatness, not for themselves, but to glorify God and help the world around them. Blood Alcohol Evidence Allowed In Case Over Iskander Brothers' Deaths Socialite ran over Iskander kids in 2020, A small crowd has gathered at the Van Nuys courthouse where a hearing is set for Rebecca Grossman. [emailprotected]. }); Nancy Iskander testifies in Rebecca Grossman Westlake crash hearing 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. Jacob and Mark were both hit by the Mercedes. The judge pointed out vehicle data which said Grossman had reached 81 mph about a second and a half before the crash. }); Justice must be served, regardless of Grossman's financial means, status, privilege, and connections," reads one petition. The driver, Rebecca Grossman,. He stands tall, he speaks with confidence. Even as media coverage dwindles, we will be watching, waiting, and praying that Rebecca Grossman is prosecuted appropriately for her heinous crime. }); Cohen, a neighbor of the Iskander family in Westlake Village, added, 'If Grossman didn't have money and connections, she would have been in custody all this time instead of free on bail. Audio played by the defense in court showed Grossman telling 911 operators from a Mercedes-Benz that she did not know what she hit and that her airbag just went off. } She didnt apply the brakes after she hit the children. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Attorneys for Rebecca Grossman, accused of vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, filed a motion used when a defendant alleges an officer used excessive force or lied about the events surrounding an arrest. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ "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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), LA socialite runs over two young boys with her Mercedes in front of their parents, Why is Rebecca Grossman's case DELAYED again? Grossman's bail was set at $2 million and she's due in court Oct. 21. The vigil was held at Three Springs Park, 3000 Three Springs Drive, the neighborhood park where the brothers would play growing up. rebecca grossman socialite case delayed again ran over mark jacob "This case has taken way too long. Erickson, who reportedly drove past the family before Grossman struck the boys, has been charged with misdemeanor reckless driving. The brothers were identified by friends and by the Acorn newspaper as 9-year-old Jacob Iskander and 11-year-old Mark. Iskander said she waved frantically to try to get the drivers' attention before pushing her 5-year-old son out of the way. Authorities investigating the crash in 2020. One of the co-organizers of the vigil, Conejo Valley resident Julie Cohen, said she did not know the Iskander family before the accident but felt compelled to help the family when she heard what happened. Mark and Jacob were excited about learning. "Mark was the type of friend that, if anything happened, he was always there for me or for anybody," Nagel said. Rebecca Grossman to Stand Trial in Jacob and Mark Iskander's Deaths 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. Justice must be served, regardless of Grossmans financial means, status, privilege, and connections.". The vehicles driver, 57-year-old, Rebecca Grossman, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, racing, and fleeing the scene of the crime. Testimony at the preliminary hearing showed that Grossman had a history of speedingreceiving tickets at a canyon road months before the crash, and back in 2013 on the 101 Freeway. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), There were initial inaccurate and premature reports in this case, which speculated falsely about a range of allegations, including but not limited to the alleged involvement of street racing, prior traffic accidents, and prior DUIs, each of which have now been shown to be untrue. hitType: 'event', 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. The preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 25. Mark and Jacob were deacons at Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Simi Valley. That is hit-and-run.. Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and general assignment reporterfor the Ventura County Star. (Source: NBC News) Grossman posted bail and was released about twenty-four hours . This program will create scholarships for foster children interested in attending the same schools that the boys had the pleasure of attending. Rebecca Grossman accepts the Betty Fisher Legacy Award at Evening of Hope 2017, May 18, 2017, in Universal City, Calif. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He almost killed us.. By
Emailus. Jacob and Marks motherNancy Iskandertestified to walking with three of her sons at the crosswalk. Courtesy of the Iskander family. We were surprised and disappointed, but (the prosecutors) kept managing our expectations, saying this is the process and be patient and justice will eventually be served, Karim Iskander said. Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation Fund Grossman has also been involved in other humanitarian causes, including the prevention of violence against women, human rights and the American Heart Association, from whom she won a 'Woman of the Year' award in 2007. Will a Hidden Hills socialite face murder trial for running over - AOL Grossman arrived at court with her plastic surgeon husband, Dr Peter Grossman. 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. One of the protesters, mother-of-two Julie Cohen, 58, - who made the Mark and Jacob T-shirts bearing the words 'JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED, plus similar stickers - told told DailyMail.com, 'There have been too many delays already. (2/3) Grossman faces two counts of murder, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of felony hit and run. Mark (11) and Jacob (8) Iskander were tragically killed in an auto accident by an "alleged" drunk driver in September, 2020. They didnt stop before the intersection, she said. We urge the public to keep an open mind and wait for evidence to be presented before drawing any conclusions. 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. Karim Iskander heard the crash, heard his wife scream, and came running. 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 said. 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. Vanessa Bechtel, president and CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation, sharedinformation about the new foundation started in the brothers' honor, the Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation. pic.twitter.com/SlLiwtFiRt. The 58-year-old showed up in court on Wednesday, March 9, while people expressed outrage over her being on bail since two days after the crime she committed and the slow pace of the proceedings. On September 14, Samuels blasted Grossman for not showing up at her previous five scheduled court appearances, all of which were continued. Mark's and Jacob's family and community . Nothing will bring Mark and Jacob back and the pain in my heart will remain, but we are happy with the justice we received today., [Screenshot of Grossman via Grossman Burn Foundation; screenshot of investigation via KTTV], Have a tip we should know? "How was it sitting in there and then learning you have a preliminary hearing to get things moving?" While they wait, Nancy Iskander said she and her husband pray every night for the boys: Mark, who wanted to be a neurosurgeon or a comedian, and Jacob, whom she described as her bodyguard.. In September 2020, the young lives of Mark and Jacob Iskander were tragically taken by a drunk driver in a hit and run accident while on a family walk in their neighborhood in California. Emailus. A memorial service was held for Mark and Jacob on Oct. 7 at their school in Thousand Oaks: Ascension Lutheran School. ", "They were truly, truly awesome kids. 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. 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. asked ABC7 reporter Sid Garcia. Marks and Jacobs family and community will continue to grieve this horrific and tragic loss for a lifetime. The video of the tragic incident is in possession of authorities and investigators had noted alcohol and street . Mark & Jacob House for Boys | H.O.P.E. In fact, the court record will show Mrs. Grossman did not intend to hurt anyone, she did not flee from the accident, and she fully cooperated with the police." She has never been in criminal trouble before, nor has she ever been arrested before. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. We, the undersigned, want the Los Angeles District Attorney's office to know that we will actively and diligently seek justice for Mark and Jacob Iskander.