Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: "DEATH BY MERCEDES: $$$ Socialite Mows Down Brothers, Denied Venue Change in Civil Trial, Accused of Hiding Assets"
Date: December 14, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace
Panelists/Guests: Ray Caputo, Kathleen Murphy, Dr. Angela Arnold, Cheryl McCollum, Mark Klaas, Joseph Scott Morgan

Episode Overview

This episode covers the tragic and high-profile case of Rebecca Grossman, a wealthy California socialite who fatally struck two young brothers, Mark and Jacob Iskander, while driving her Mercedes at high speed after drinking. Grossman’s subsequent conviction for second-degree murder, her attempts to move her civil trial out of Los Angeles County, and allegations of attempting to hide assets are thoroughly examined. Nancy Grace and her expert panel dissect the facts of the case, its impact on the community, and the broader legal and moral implications.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Incident: The Deadly Crash in Westlake Village

• Timeline of Events

  • On a warm September evening, the Iskander family—six in total, including Mark (11) and Jacob (8)—were returning home from a stroll in Westlake Village, CA. ([04:22])
  • In a marked crosswalk at a three-way intersection, the family is struck by Rebecca Grossman’s speeding Mercedes, allegedly after a boozy lunch and while street racing with her lover.
  • Mother managed to pull one child and a stroller to safety. Mark and Jacob were hit; Mark died at the scene and Jacob later at the hospital. ([05:52])

• Scene Details

  • Mark was thrown 254 feet by the impact, underscoring the car’s excessive speed. ([04:22])
  • Witnesses and police describe how one boy was carried on the hood for 100 feet before Grossman slammed the brakes, dislodging him, and then ran over him as she tried to flee. ([10:01])
  • Grossman did not stop to render aid; she was found about a mile away after her car failed. ([23:11])

• Notable Quote

  • "She reportedly slammed on her brakes so he'd roll off and then she ran him over." – News anchor (19:10)

2. Community and Panel Reactions

• Panelists express outrage and heartbreak:

  • Nancy Grace laments, "How can you miss a group of six people—including a stroller—in a marked crosswalk before dark?" ([10:31])
  • Cheryl McCollum emphasizes, "She made the conscious choice to do more damage to that baby than to stop and render aid." ([20:21])
  • Kathleen Murphy: "This is nothing new behavior. She chose to drink, she chose to drive, she chose to cover it up." ([45:10])

• Psychiatric Perspective

  • Dr. Angela Arnold addresses the lack of empathy: "It’s such a horrific act that most of us cannot understand. To me, it speaks to something deeper that is wrong with this woman on top of her alcohol addiction." ([21:53])

3. Grossman's Defense and Legal Maneuvering

• Civil Trial Venue Change Denied
  • Grossman’s attorneys claim pretrial publicity prevents a fair trial in LA County, citing high name recognition from media coverage.
  • Nancy counters: "That does not mean they cannot be impartial. ... Look at Sean Combs' trial—everyone knew who he was—but a fair trial proceeded." ([15:14])
  • Judge Huey Cotton refuses the venue change, expressing confidence in the ability to seat an impartial LA jury. ([45:59])
  • Notable: Grossman's legal team also cited family death threats to support the move, but the judge and panel dismiss this as insufficient.

4. Evidence, Investigation Hurdles, and Asset Hiding

• Driving Under Influence (DUI)

  • Grossman tested above the legal BAC limit. Panelists stress the necessity for timely BAC testing and lament possible defenses if too much time passes before testing. ([31:11])
  • Previous DUI/adverse driving history cited, including a 2000 crash where she ran a red light. ([43:25])

• Community Status and Asset Shields

  • Grossman and her husband are prominent due to the Grossman Burn Foundation, but panelists highlight hypocrisy in their benevolent image.
  • Allegations arise that Grossman, with husband’s help, may be trying to shield assets before the civil trial—house deeds transferred to a trust, mansion listed for $13.5 million. ([49:05])
  • Judge allows plaintiff attorneys to depose Grossman’s husband and daughter, overruling claims of undue trauma or repetitive questioning. ([48:00])

• Notable Investigative Steps

  • Kathleen Murphy: "Investigators have to retrace her steps—what she drank, when, every speeding ticket, DUI, social gatherings—to establish a pattern and prove history." ([39:45])

5. Systemic Issues and Moral Judgments

• Privilege and Social Status

  • Discussion of wealthy defendants leveraging influence to evade consequences—a recurring theme.
  • Nancy Grace and others denounce the persistence of calling Grossman a "socialite." Dr. Arnold: "We should be calling her a sociopath today because that is what this woman is." ([44:25])

• Victim Impact

  • Several panelists focus on the enduring trauma for the Iskander family, notably as they witnessed their sons' deaths.
  • Nancy: "I'm really more worried about the two dead boys than anybody's reputation." ([43:56])

• Hit-and-Run and Absence of Remorse

  • Grossman's lack of stopping to render aid is repeatedly condemned as inhumane.
  • Mark Klaas: "No conscience. No morals. This is a woman who most certainly does not belong behind the driver's seat of a car." ([28:49])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nancy Grace (on venue demand):

  • "Good luck with that, Grossman. ... You'd have to be living under a rock in a cave on the other side of the world with earmuffs on not to know who Rebecca Grossman is." ([15:14])

• Cheryl McCollum (on fleeing the scene):

  • "She did nothing to help this family. She did nothing to help the two little boys. ... She didn't even go to a pay phone and call 911 anonymously to get help." ([23:55])

• Joseph Scott Morgan (on car damage):

  • "It looks like she ran into a damn telephone pole. ... She was traveling at such a high rate that it literally collapsed the front of that car." ([32:23])

• Dr. Angela Arnold (on diagnosis):

  • "Instead of a socialite, we should be calling her a sociopath today because that is what this woman is." ([44:25])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Crash details recounted: [04:22] – [10:31]
• Witness accounts and lack of driver response: [19:10], [20:21]
• Legal arguments about trial venue: [15:14], [45:59]
• Grossman’s blood alcohol analysis and prior conduct: [31:11], [43:25]
• Community status and philanthropic PR vs. reality: [26:27]
• Asset hiding and civil litigation updates: [48:00] – [49:05]
• Emotional toll on the Iskander family: [24:11], [43:56]

Episode Structure

1. Recap of the deadly crash, decisions leading up to it, and the immediate aftermath
2. Panel analysis—criminal vs. civil liability, legal strategizing, evidence
3. Broader commentary: Power, privilege, and justice
4. Community and victim focus
5. Latest legal developments: Denial of venue change, asset hiding allegations
6. Closing: Support for the victims' family and the ongoing quest for justice

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a clear, comprehensive, and emotionally resonant breakdown of the Rebecca Grossman case as covered by Nancy Grace and expert panelists.