California socialite sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for killing 2 children in crosswalk

A wealthy California woman who co-founded a Los Angeles burn center was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in prison for the hit-and-run murders of two children while they were in a crosswalk more than two years ago. three years.

Rebecca Grossman was speeding when she struck and killed Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother Jacob, 8, while they were in a crosswalk in the Los Angeles-area town of Westlake Village, on September 29, 2020.

“The loss of these two innocent lives has devastated their family and our community. Ms. Grossman’s blatant disregard for human life is a stark reminder of the serious consequences of reckless driving,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement.

Grossman was convicted in February by a jury of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in the dead.

Grossman, now 60, was speeding behind a car driven by her then-lover, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, when she fatally struck the boys, they said. prosecutors. Erickson has not been charged.

Prosecutors had requested a sentence of 34 years to life. The 15-to-life sentence handed down by Judge Joseph Brandolino means Grossman will be eligible for parole after 15 years in prison.

The boys' mother, Nancy Iskander, said during Monday's sentencing that Grossman showed her no remorse for killing her two boys, NBC Los Angeles reported.

In a letter to the judge, Grossman said, “I am not a murderer” and “As God is my witness, I did not see anyone or anything on the road.” I swear, I would have hit a tree with my car to avoid hitting two little boys,” the station reported.

Allen Castellano, chief of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Northern Patrol Division, said in a statement that he hoped the sentence would bring some comfort to the family.

“This person showed complete disregard for the lives and safety of others in our community through his reckless actions, which ultimately broke up a family and deprived two children of their bright futures,” he said .

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com