In Sheans second-hand account, the trooper said he remembered the incident after all this time because Grossman said, as Shean paraphrased it, He better hope he doesnt need to come to the Grossman Burn Center for help. Grossman co-founded the Grossman Burn Foundation with her doctor husband Peter Grossman. Crash that Killed Pregnant Mom, 4 Others Was Involved in 13 Prior Wrecks: Prosecutors. }); She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Speculative and unsourced reporting only serves to further sensationalize and deepen the pain and loss caused by this tragic accident. These victims lost two children. Nonprofit Founder Charged with Murder After Allegedly Killing 2 Boys in Hit and Run Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 8, were killed in September when Rebecca Grossman allegedly. Grossman has pleaded not guilty. He stands tall, he speaks with confidence. She was NOT charged with DUI, despite @LHSLASD investigators saying she was under the influence at the time of the crash. On Sept. 29, 2020, Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8, had tried to cross Triunfo Canyon Road at Saddle Mountain Drivewhen they were hit by a passing car, killing them both. Although she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Grossman is not being charged with DUI. Justice for Mark and Jacob Iskander.'. Emailus. Get your daily crime on! Westlake Wrongful Death Case: Court Delays Justice For Family Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Rebecca Grossman is a good and decent person who has dedicated her entire lifeas a mother, volunteer and founder of a not-for-profit foundation to caring for others. Jacob and Marks motherNancy Iskandertestified to walking with three of her sons at the crosswalk. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ 'I heard a really loud noise, I looked back and I either felt or saw the other car speeding also,' Iskander said. He has pleaded not guilty. 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. 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. 10:21 EDT 26 Apr 2022. To honor their memory, The Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation has been established to make sure that the love and kindness that Mark and Jacob left us with, is not only remembered, but multiplied. Nonprofit Founder Charged with Murder After Allegedly Killing - People 2 years after fatal hit-and-run, boys are remembered as family @ScottSteepleton #acornnewspaper pic.twitter.com/f3SwFbBYn2. On the evening of Sept. 29, however, the entire family of six (including 5-year-old Zachary and baby Violet) set out on a stroll that would take them across Triunfo Canyon Road to the shores of Westlake Lake. They were both coming at us at unbelievable speeds, she said. Emailus. Our freedom of information act requests has 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.. They used photos of her at various events in lieu of her mugshot. He wasnt driving recklessly. ga('ads.send', { window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { As Delkeskamp spoke, an animal handler placed two boxes on a table behind her. The judge pointed out vehicle data which said Grossman had reached 81 mph about a second and a half before the crash. 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. Iskander welcomed the judges decision to go to trial. 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. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. Karim and Nancy Iskander, parents of Mark and Jacob Iskander, share a laugh at a public vigil for the boys on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Westlake Village on the second anniversary of the crash . 2/2 "She has never been in criminal trouble before, nor has she ever been arrested before. The video of the tragic incident is in possession of authorities and investigators had noted alcohol and street . That, alone, is comforting.. "I grew up in the days in Thousand Oaks when neighbors helped one another," Cohen said. This is a serious case. Nancy Iskander said she arrived at the crosswalk where Saddle Mountain Drive meets Triunfo with her three boys in tow. 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { The Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation celebrates the extraordinary lives of Mark and Jacob Iskander by continuing their mission of love and light. ga('ads.send', { We expect that the evidence in court will show there is insufficient justification for murder charges in this case. 'We can't keep continuing this. Shean testified that Grossmans blood alcohol level was at the legal limit of 0.08 percent. The evidence is the defendant, after hitting the children, proceeded to the driveway, the judge said. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ At the instructions of someone already performing CPR compressions, Karim Iskander began giving his oldest son mouth-to-mouth to no avail. },false) 'I do apologize for the delays.'. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ 'Justice must be served, regardless of Grossman's financial means, status, privilege and connections,' declared one. OUR MISSION The Mark & Jacob Foundation "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. She was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI after her front-end-damaged car broke down a quarter mile from the crash site. Karim Iskander heard the crash, heard his wife scream, and came running. Nancy Iskander appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday to testify in the preliminary hearing for the case, nearly two years after the hit-and-run crash killed her sons Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8. The victims, 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander, were crossing the street in a marked crosswalk with their parents and siblings on Triunfo Canyon Road in Westlake Village the . Grieving community members gathered at a vigil for the boys on Wednesday night. 'Drunk socialite, 57, killed boys in front of their parents - then The boys' mother, Nancy Iskander was also seen wearing one of the T-shirts as she thanked the protesters for their support. Erickson, whose vehicle entered the crosswalk first and barely missed the boys, according to Nancy Iskander, has been charged with misdemeanor reckless driving, which carries a maximum penalty of three months in jail and a $1,000 fine. PRECIOUS BROTHERSIt's been a year since Jacob, left, and Mark Iskander of Westlake Village were killed, and their parents and two younger siblings are still grieving and looking for answers. Those emails allegedly included exhortations to add either a stoplight or flashing lights to the crossing, according to Buzbee. 57, struck and killed nine year-old Jacob Iskander . ", Meanwhile, at the hearing, Judge Shellie Samuels apologized to the victims' parents, Nancy and Karim Iskander, for the constant delay in the case. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. "How was it sitting in there and then learning you have a preliminary hearing to get things moving?" Near the end of the vigil, the Rev. On Sep 29, 2020, the Iskander family lost their two sons, Mark (11) and Jacob (8), due to a reckless driver. The driver, Rebecca Grossman, 58, of Hidden Hills, has been charged with second degree murder and currently awaits trial in Los Angeles County. The boys' deaths prompted an. pic.twitter.com/SlLiwtFiRt. 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." 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. The Iskander family, along with Residents of Westlake Village, California have been mourning the loss of two beautiful children for over two years. Mother who witnessed two of her sons struck and killed on - KCLU Mark's and Jacob's family and community . "This case has taken way too long. Grossman allegedly kept driving after striking the children, only stopping a quarter-mile away because her engine cut off, authorities have said. Andrea Cavallier For Dailymail.Com 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. Thomas, Hill and Woolsey Wildfire Recovery Funds, Farmworker Household Assistance Program (FHAP), Act Now: Matching Dollars Available for COVID-19 Relief Funds. Mark (11) and Jacob (8) Iskander were tragically killed in an auto accident by an "alleged" drunk driver in September, 2020. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' The Grossman Burn Foundation did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Mark was thrown 254 feet. The child development resource center offers these children access to fresh clothes, nutritional meals, and fun activities. The eighth grader was one of many people who spoke at Thursday's vigil for Mark and Jacob Iskander, two young brothers who were fatally struck by a car on Sept. 29, 2020. The foundation will also ensure that theyre equipped with everything they need to make the most out of their education. 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. "Please God, I ask that everyone who sees me on my feet, that they also know that whatever they struggle with in life, they too will be OK," Iskander said. She is presumed innocent until the government proves this case beyond a reasonable doubt. The child development resource center offers these children access to fresh clothes, nutritional meals, and fun activities. Have a tip we should know? He wasnt racing, he said, according to a joint article from the Associated Press and City News Service in Feb. 1, 2021. We think the whole justice system, they looked at the facts and they made the right decision. She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The defense highlighted test results showing their clients blood alcohol level was at .074 percent and .073 percent, but the Orange County lab criminalist Kelly Brownacknowledged to prosecutors during cross-examination that it was possible for that amount to decrease over time for the Orange County test to show lower results than the one from Los Angeles County. The Mark & Jacob Iskander Foundation 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 Iskander family neighbor Julie Cohen, 'This case has taken way too long,' said the judge. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Media outlets across the globe ran stories about Grossman, calling her a socialite, and repeatedly making note of her familys wealth and status in their reports. ', The other petition proclaimed, 'Let's push to spread awareness about this case and put Rebecca Grossman behind bars. (Source: NBC News) Grossman posted bail and was released about twenty-four hours . Of course, that action was too little, too late.. Additional news articles can be found below:People | CBS | LA Mag | The Acorn | Thousand Oaks Acorn | The Acorn (#2) | Daily Mail. (@ScottSteepleton video) #accornnewspaper pic.twitter.com/ksFIv019X7. She has not been actually charged with DUI. },false) Sheriffs deputies had previously clocked her speed as exceeding 80 miles per hour just seconds before. The boys' father, Karim Iskander, said Mark had "the sweetest heart ever," and would "spread sincere appreciation and laughter." 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. , updated I do apologize for the delays." Of his younger son, Karim added, "Jacob was the coolest boy ever. 2 brothers killed in Westlake Village crash identified; Rebecca He said that her car computer displayed 73 mph. In a statement released, Grossman's attorney said, "Rebecca Grossman has entered a not guilty plea in this case, and the government has yet to present any evidence in court. The Mark & Jacob Iskander Foundation helps fund a child development resource center in Egypt where these kids can take a break from the harsh reality of their lives. Even as media coverage dwindles, we will be watching, waiting, and praying that Rebecca Grossman is prosecuted appropriately for her heinous crime. Chamie Delkeskamp, the religion teacher at Ascencion Lutheran, offered a meditation on grief. The boys, both deacons at Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Simi, died Sept. 29, 2020, after being hit by a car said to be speeding through a crosswalk. With the sun lowering in the distance, the Iskander family lifted the cover off the boxes and two dozen doves flew into the air, disappearing into the sunset. ", Rebecca Grossman was driving over 70 mph the night she hit 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander in a Westlake Village crosswalk, according to a civil suit filed by the boys parents. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. "Thank you Lord, thank you for Mark. As the tragedys first anniversary drew near, the boys school, Ascension Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, planned to hold special prayers, but Nancy Iskander said the day will be like any other. }) One year after tragedy, Iskanders break silence Mark's and Jacob's family and community will continue to grieve this horrific and tragic loss for a lifetime. 1 Dead, 12 Injured After Car Runs Into Taco Stand in Pomona, Calif. Driver Charged with DWI and Murder Allegedly Smirked as He Ran Over Boy, 6, Multiple Times: Grandfather, Man Charged with Murder After Cyclist, 77, Killed in Hit-and-Run During Charity Ride, Man Who Shot Lady Gaga's Dog Walker During Dognapping Sentenced to 21 Years: 'I Do Forgive You'. Grossman is charged with murdering Jacob and Mark in Westlake Village. I looked backand Zachary, tooturned around to see the other car come and take them, she said, struggling to hold back her tears. Grossman, 57, was arrested on two counts of vehicular manslaughter, the sheriff's department said. The Mark & Jacob Iskander Orphanage will be a place of refuge and hope for children who would otherwise be left to fend for themselves.This project needs your critical support to meet its fundraising goals. She faces a maximum 34 years in prison. In September 2020, Rebecca Grossman ran over two boys Mark and Jacob Iskander with her Mercedes in West Lake, California. Erickson has been charged with a count of misdemeanor reckless driving. With your support, Mark and Jacobs light will travel to the darkest places and illuminate countless young lives both at home and abroad, through three projects dedicated to supporting orphans in Egypt, impoverished youth, and foster children. ", Unsure what this has to do with material facts of the case. The first suit alleges that Grossman was intoxicated and driving in excess of 70 mph when she ran over Mark and Jacob. But said neither Grossman's white Mercedes Benz nor Scott Erickson's black SUV stopped. According to the Los Angeles district attorneys office, Grossman did not pull over willingly after the collision; her Mercedes-Benz came to a halt a quarter-mile down the road only when the engine shut down on its own as a result of the frontend collision. 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. She did not come back. "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. "All witnessed by the very eyes of the ones who love them most their parents. I have people reaching out to me every day asking how they can pray for me, what they can do for me, Nancy Iskander said. The judge reportedly denied the defense an opportunity to show evidence their client stopped of her own volitionrather than stopping because of her vehicle breaking down. I think its a mix of both.. asked ABC7 reporter Sid Garcia. On September 14, Samuels blasted Grossman for not showing up at her previous five scheduled court appearances, all of which were continued. The orphanage will be in Mark and Mark and Jacob were deacons at Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Simi Valley. Several witnesses will testify this morning with a decision expected later today. In Egypt, where the Iskander family is from, adoption is illegal. One year ago, their lives changed in an instantthe hopes and dreams that Nancy and Karim Iskander once held for their two oldest sons, Mark and Jacob, extinguished in a heartbeat. 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. 'They were like 2 angels': Family friends, officials ID young brothers Grossman, a Hidden Hills resident, is accused of hitting Jacob, 8, and Mark Iskander, 11, with her car. Grossman arrived at court with her plastic surgeon husband, Dr Peter Grossman. } "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. Grossman, 58, kept her head down and clutched her husband's hand as she arrived at the Van Nuys courtroom on Monday. The preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 25. Were definitely happy, she said after the hearing, according to KABC. AttorneyMark Werksmandenied that his client witnessed the crash or played a role in it. It's time she was put behind bars, where she belongs.'. "I don't know if God will ever give me this understanding, but I do know that I feel so blessed to have known Mark and Jacob for the short time that I did.". 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. Support from the community has helped; its a signal to the parents that their sons live on in the memory of others. }); Authorities investigating the crash in 2020. It's time she was put behind bars, where she belongs. 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. About Mark & Jacob Our Mission Updates Contact Donate. All witnessed by the very eyes of the ones who love them most their parents. Learn more about the foundation's orphanage, programs for impoverished youth, and support for foster children. The foundation will raise funds to support underserved children in Egypt and around the world. It's detrimental to them that this is taking so long. After an acoustic performance by Devin Milligan, the boys' former music teacher, attendeesheard from the Rev. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. We, the undersigned, want the Los Angeles District Attorneys office to know that we will actively and diligently seek justice for Mark and Jacob Iskander. If you sign this petition and feel compelled to do more, you may also write an e-mail directly to the District Attorneys office here: https://da.lacounty.gov/contact/email. 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. DEATH BY MERCEDES? LA socialite, allegedly mows down brothers, ages 11 Iskander was the first witness in the court proceedings where Judge Shellie Samuels will decide . Karim lagged a few minutes behind, pushing Violet in a stroller. Vigil Marks 2 Years Since Young Brothers' Deaths In Westlake Village 10:05 EDT 26 Apr 2022 }); Two years after brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander were killed while crossing aWestlake Village street, dozens of neighbors, friends and family clad in white gathered for a vigil Thursday to honor their memory. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. 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. Ericksons attorney denies that his client was racing at the time and has said Erickson did not stop because he had already passed through the crosswalk and was unaware that Mark and Jacob had been hit.
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