Rebecca Grossman was once the kind of person that charities put on their letterheads and local magazines featured in their glossy pages — a socially prominent Californian woman who had built a meaningful nonprofit, raised money for burn survivors, and cultivated a public image of generosity and civic engagement. That version of her story ended on a residential street in Westlake Village on the night of September 29, 2020. What followed — four years of legal proceedings, a murder conviction, a failed appeal, and a wrongful death civil trial — turned her from a philanthropic figurehead into one of the most closely watched criminal cases in California’s recent memory. The contrast between who she presented herself to be and what a jury ultimately concluded she had done is the central tension in her story, and it is one that continues to play out in courtrooms and in the grief of the family she left behind.
Quick Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rebecca June Gray Grossman |
| Date of Birth | June 14, 1963 |
| Nationality | American |
| Hometown | Hidden Hills, Los Angeles County, California |
| Professions | Philanthropist, Media Executive, Former Publisher |
| Foundation | Grossman Burn Foundation (co-founder, former chair) |
| Publication | Westlake Magazine (former publisher and editor-in-chief) |
| Spouse | Dr. Peter Grossman |
| Criminal Status | Convicted of second-degree murder (2024); sentence upheld on appeal (March 2026) |
| Sentence | 15 years to life in state prison |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Early Life and Background
Rebecca Grossman was born on June 14, 1963. The Sun She grew up in Texas, where by her own account she was raised with an emphasis on drive and determination. A childhood acquaintance, writing about her in a professional context years later, described her as having “Texas strength” that evolved into a “true-grit determination to complete her goals,” noting they had met as children while both were riding horses. LinkedIn
Before becoming a socialite, she reportedly worked as a flight attendant and attended classes at Texas Tech University and UCLA. The Sun Neither institution featured in her later public biography as prominently as her work and social connections did, which is itself a useful observation — Grossman built her identity through effort and networking rather than credential.
The marriage that would define much of her adult life was her union with Dr. Peter Grossman, a prominent plastic surgeon and the son of Dr. Richard Grossman, who had founded the Grossman Burn Centers in California in 1969. Marrying into that family connected Rebecca not just personally but professionally to one of Los Angeles’s most respected medical institutions — and ultimately to the philanthropic vehicle that would become her primary public identity.
Career
Healthcare, Media, and Marketing
For more than 20 years, Rebecca worked extensively in the healthcare field as a researcher, journalist, and marketing executive. CONAN Daily She owned and operated a medical marketing business called Medi-Marketing and Associates, and later founded Advanced Laser Specialists, Inc. CONAN Daily These ventures placed her at the intersection of the medical and commercial worlds — a useful position given her husband’s professional standing.
For many years she served as the publisher and editor-in-chief of Westlake Magazine, The Acorn a local publication covering the affluent communities northwest of Los Angeles. The role suited her social positioning — as publisher, she was simultaneously a media figure and a networker, attending the events she also covered. She later launched West Luxury Magazine and Paragon Healthy Lifestyle Magazines in 2016 and became the CEO of Powerhouse Lux Media, Inc. The Acorn
She also served as a guest host on “Stop the Clock,” a weekly morning news segment for ABC7 Eyewitness News, CONAN Daily extending her profile into television and broadening her public recognition beyond the print media world.
The Grossman Burn Foundation
The Grossman Burn Foundation was established in 2007 as the philanthropic arm of the Grossman Burn Centers. Grossman Burn Center Founded by Dr. Peter Grossman and his wife Rebecca, the GBF is headquartered in Los Angeles County and works to provide burn prevention education and self-sustainable burn treatment communities in the United States and around the world. Grossmanburnfoundation
The foundation was a genuine operation. It supported burn survivors internationally, ran domestic outreach programmes, and worked with women who had survived acid attacks and domestic violence. The foundation launched the Stop Violence Against Women Globally campaign in 2011, with global petitioners including former First Ladies Laura Bush and Maria Shriver. LinkedIn
Rebecca’s role as co-founder and chair gave her both a meaningful cause and a public identity that transcended the local magazine world. She became a recognisable face in Los Angeles philanthropic circles — the kind of figure who appears at galas, speaks at events, and cultivates relationships with institutions and donors across the city.
The Night of September 29, 2020
What happened on Triunfo Canyon Road in Westlake Village that night dismantled everything Grossman had built publicly, and cost two children their lives.
On the evening of September 29, 2020, Grossman was driving her white Mercedes SUV on Triunfo Canyon Road. Evidence at trial established that she was travelling at approximately 73 mph in a 45 mph residential zone in the seconds before the collision. Hashemi Law
Mark Iskander, 11, and his younger brother Jacob, 8, were crossing a marked crosswalk with their family when Grossman’s SUV struck them. Their parents were with them; the crash spared other family members who had been pulled back to the kerb in time. NBC Los Angeles
Despite the collision deploying her vehicle’s airbags, Grossman did not stop. She continued driving for approximately a quarter-mile until the vehicle’s crash safety systems cut off the fuel supply and forced the car to a halt. Hashemi Law Mark Iskander died at the scene. Jacob died in hospital hours later.
Prosecutors said Grossman was driving at speeds of 73 to 81 mph, had both alcohol and valium in her system, and failed to return to the scene or offer medical aid. NBC Los Angeles
Trial and Conviction
The legal process took nearly four years. Grossman pleaded not guilty, and her defence made arguments that shifted responsibility toward her then-boyfriend, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson. Her team alleged that Erickson struck the children first with his black SUV. Erickson was never called to testify. NBC Los Angeles
On February 23, 2024, a jury convicted Rebecca Grossman of one felony count of murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence for the death of Mark Iskander, one felony count of murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence for the death of Jacob Iskander, and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death. Los Angeles County
At sentencing, Grossman wrote to the judge: “I am not a murderer, and I ask you to recognize that true fact.” She maintained she had not seen anyone in the road and stated that she “would have driven her car into a tree” to avoid hitting the boys. NBC Los Angeles
On June 10, 2024, Judge Joseph Brandolino sentenced her to 15 years to life in state prison. She was additionally ordered to pay $47,161.89 in restitution to the victims’ family. Los Angeles County Prosecutors had asked for 34 years.
The Appeal and Its Outcome
Grossman filed an appeal in June 2024, with her attorneys arguing that the trial judge had failed to properly instruct the jury on the definition of “implied malice” — the legal standard required for second-degree murder. In March 2026, a three-judge panel of California’s Second Appellate District upheld her conviction. Los Angeles County District Attorney
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said: “The legal standard is clear: Driving at excessive speeds through a pedestrian crosswalk after consuming alcohol absolutely demonstrates the requisite state of mind for second-degree murder. The outcome of this case shows that the law applies to everyone, and money or connections offer no immunity from accountability.” Los Angeles County District Attorney
The Civil Trial and Prison Contact
Beyond the criminal case, the Iskander family pursued a wrongful death civil action. In the course of that proceeding, a further controversy emerged: Grossman contacted Nancy Iskander from prison, reportedly asking her to visit and witness the difficulty of life behind bars, and referring to herself as a “victim” in the situation. A judge had already fined Grossman $10,000 for sending a prior letter from prison that was deemed a potential attempt to influence the civil proceedings.
Nancy Iskander’s public response to the contact was one of the most striking statements in a case full of them. She said she would trade places with Grossman in prison without hesitation if it meant her sons could come back.
Personal Life
Grossman is married to Dr. Peter Grossman, a prominent plastic surgeon and medical director of the Grossman Burn Center. He is president of the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons. Thousand Oaks Acorn – The marriage predates the events of 2020, and Dr. Grossman has remained largely absent from the public proceedings surrounding his wife’s case.
Grossman has children of her own. At sentencing, letters from family members and friends portrayed her as a devoted mother. The collision and its aftermath have, by any measure, had consequences extending far beyond the convicted woman herself.
Net Worth
Rebecca Grossman’s financial position, like much of her private life, has not been made fully public. Her income derived primarily from her media ventures, her marketing business, and the social standing connected to her husband’s medical career. The Grossman Burn Foundation operated as a nonprofit, so it was not a personal income source. No verified or widely reported net worth figure is available, and given the ongoing civil litigation, the full picture of her financial circumstances remains unclear.
Conclusion
Rebecca Grossman’s biography is defined by two sharply incompatible narratives. In one, she is a driven Texas-raised woman who built a philanthropic institution, led a media company, and devoted years to raising money for burn survivors. In the other — the one confirmed by a jury in February 2024 and upheld by an appellate court in March 2026 — she is the person who drove a luxury SUV at nearly double the speed limit through a residential crosswalk after drinking, struck two children, and drove away. The Iskander family has spent years navigating grief while simultaneously pursuing accountability through every available legal channel. The fact that Grossman, even from prison, reached out to Nancy Iskander to describe herself as a victim suggests that the gap between those two narratives has not closed in her own mind. For the family of Mark and Jacob Iskander, no sentence, appeal outcome, or civil judgment can close it either.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rebecca Grossman? Rebecca Grossman is a California socialite born on June 14, 1963, best known as the co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation. The Sun She was convicted in 2024 of second-degree murder for the hit-and-run deaths of two young brothers in Westlake Village in 2020.
What did Rebecca Grossman do? On September 29, 2020, Grossman struck 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander with her Mercedes SUV as they crossed a marked crosswalk with their family. Prosecutors established she was driving at up to 81 mph in a 45 mph zone and had alcohol and valium in her system. She did not stop after the collision. NBC Los Angeles
What was Rebecca Grossman’s sentence? She was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison on June 10, 2024, by Judge Joseph Brandolino, and was additionally ordered to pay $47,161.89 in restitution. Los Angeles County
Was Rebecca Grossman’s conviction upheld? Yes. In March 2026, a three-judge panel of California’s Second Appellate District upheld her double murder convictions. She is currently serving her sentence in state prison. Los Angeles County District Attorney
What is the Grossman Burn Foundation? The Grossman Burn Foundation was co-founded by Dr. Peter Grossman and Rebecca Grossman in 2007 as the philanthropic arm of the Grossman Burn Centers. It works to provide burn prevention education and support for burn survivors in the United States and internationally
