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LA socialite charged with murder for 'hitting and killing brothers' pleads not guilty

A Los Angeles socialite accused of killing two young brothers in a hit-and-run crash in September kept her head down after she pleaded not guilty to new murder charges Wednesday.

Rebecca Grossman, 57, the wife of prominent plastic reconstructive surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman, looked serious and kept her eyes down as she left a Los Angeles County Superior courtroom in Van Nuys surrounded by her lawyers.  

She was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death for a September crash where she hit and killed brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 9, in Westlake Village, California. 

In the crash she was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI after she fled the scene in her smashed Mercedes. She was released on October 1 after she posted $2million bail.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said to CBSLA Monday that they’re still investigating if Grossman was drunk behind the wheel and are waiting on toxicology results and she could face further charges. 

Grossman’s current address is listed as a sprawling $7.6million mansion in Hidden Hills that features nine bedrooms and 12 bathrooms and is located on the same street as Full House actress Lori Loughlin. 

Rebecca Grossman, 57, the wife of prominent plastic reconstructive surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman, kept her head down as she left court on Wednesday after entering her not guilty plea to murder charges

Rebecca Grossman, 57, the wife of prominent plastic reconstructive surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman, kept her head down as she left court on Wednesday after entering her not guilty plea to murder charges

Leaving court: On Wednesday she was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death in Los Angeles County Superior Court

Leaving court: On Wednesday she was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death in Los Angeles County Superior Court

Rebecca and her surgeon husband Dr. Peter Grossman pictured together above

Rebecca and her surgeon husband Dr. Peter Grossman pictured together above

She was arrested in September on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI after smashing her speeding Mercedes into brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 9, in Westlake Village, California

She was arrested in September on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI after smashing her speeding Mercedes into brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 9, in Westlake Village, California

Grossman's current address is listed as a sprawling $7.6million mansion in Hidden Hills that features nine bedrooms and 12 bathrooms and is located next door to Full House actress Lori Loughlin

Grossman’s current address is listed as a sprawling $7.6million mansion in Hidden Hills that features nine bedrooms and 12 bathrooms and is located next door to Full House actress Lori Loughlin

If convicted as charged, she faces up to 34 years to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. 

Her next court hearing is scheduled for February 16. 

Grossman is a member of the prominent Grossman family, the former publisher of Westlake Magazine and the co-founder of the renowned Grossman Burn Foundation.

On September 29 at 7.10pm boys Mark and Jacob Iskander were ‘walking with their family’, in a crosswalk at the inters
ection of Triunfo Canyon Road and Saddle Mountain Drive when they were hit by Grossman in a speeding Mercedes. 

The three-way intersection had a marked crosswalk and no stoplight. 

The boys’ parents Karim and Nancy Iskander said they heard the speeding car and reached out to protect their children, but could only grab their two other children Zackary and Violet.  Mark and Jacob were too far away and were hit by the car, police said.

Mark died at the scene and Jacob died in a hospital a few hours later.  

Grossman is the former publisher of Westlake Magazine and the co-founder of the renowned Grossman Burn Foundation

Grossman is the former publisher of Westlake Magazine and the co-founder of the renowned Grossman Burn Foundation 

Living in the lap of luxury: This lavish 15,700-square-foot home built in 1989 is listed as the address for Grossman and her surgeon husband. A view of the home's posh living room with stone fireplace above

Living in the lap of luxury: This lavish 15,700-square-foot home built in 1989 is listed as the address for Grossman and her surgeon husband. A view of the home’s posh living room with stone fireplace above

The nine-bedroom home's entry way and spiral staircase pictured above

The nine-bedroom home’s entry way and spiral staircase pictured above

The sprawling mansion is located in a gated community in Hidden Hills, California near the home of actress Lori Loughlin

The sprawling mansion is located in a gated community in Hidden Hills, California near the home of actress Lori Loughlin

The sheriff's department said they're still investigating if Grossman was drunk behind the wheel and are waiting on toxicology results. She could face further charges if those results come in showing she was intoxicated during the crash. A view of the pool area of the home above

The sheriff’s department said they’re still investigating if Grossman was drunk behind the wheel and are waiting on toxicology results. She could face further charges if those results come in showing she was intoxicated during the crash. A view of the pool area of the home above

An aerial view of the massive Hidden Hills mansion above

An aerial view of the massive Hidden Hills mansion above

The LA County Sheriff’s office said that Grossman sped away from the scene and her white Mercedes suffered front-end damage. 

She only stopped a quarter mile from the crash scene after the engine broke down, prosecutors say.  

Investigators said street racing may have been involved in the crash.

Police said one boy was carried 100ft on the hood of the car before Grossman braked, at which point he fell off the car and she ran him over again while fleeing the scene. 

‘It is a very tragic situation. The mother and father were able to pull the other two children back in time, and the vehicle struck the two other children,’ Capt Salvador Becerra of the Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department said. 

Pleads not guilty: If convicted as charged, she faces up to 34 years to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

Pleads not guilty: If convicted as charged, she faces up to 34 years to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

Mark and Jacob were both members of the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church where they served as deacons.

‘Our beloved angels/deacons Mark & Jacob Iskander departed to our heavenly father our Lord Jesus Christ after being hit by a car last night,’ the church wrote. 

DailyMail.com has learned Grossman, 57, was also involved in an accident in 2012 during which the other driver claimed she ran a red light while driving 65mph in a 40mph zone and plowed into the back of his car. 

The Mercedes that struck and killed two brothers. Investigators said street racing may have been involved in the crash, which took place at 7.10pm on September 29 at the intersection of Triunfo Canyon Road and Saddle Mountain Drive

The Mercedes that struck and killed two brothers. Investigators said street racing may have been involved in the crash, which took place at 7.10pm on September 29 at the intersection of Triunfo Canyon Road and Saddle Mountain Drive

Memorial at the scene of the hit-and-run accident where Rebecca Grossman, 57, killed the two brothers

Memorial at the scene of the hit-and-run accident where Rebecca Grossman, 57, killed the two brothers

The driver, Jeffrey Hammer, died from ill health in 2018, but an insurance report seen by DailyMail.com includes his detailed description of the crash.

Ultimately, insurers found Grossman and Hammer were both 50% at fault for the accident – but that the wealthy foundation founder later launched a personal injury lawsuit against the then 60-year-old man, despite telling police at the accident scene that she wasn’t injured. 

Insurance paid out $100,000 in a settlement with Grossman, including compensation for her alleged injuries and about $15,000 of repairs to her Mercedes. 

Grossman, 57, was also involved in an accident in 2012 during which the other driver claimed she ran a red light while driving 65mph in a 40mph zone and plowed into the back of his car

Grossman, 57, was also involved in an accident in 2012 during which the other driver claimed she ran a red light while driving 65mph in a 40mph zone and plowed into the back of his car 

The driver, Jeffrey Hammer, died from ill health in 2018. Ultimately, insurers found Grossman and Hammer (pictured with his wife) were both 50% at fault for the accident.

The driver, Jeffrey Hammer, died from ill health in 2018. Ultimately, insurers found Grossman and Hammer (pictured with his wife) were both 50% at fault for the accident. 

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