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California mom who watched rich and powerful 'narcissist' mow down her two sons makes promise to killer
The mother of two California boys who were killed by a rich and powerful socialite who blew through a crosswalk in a speeding Mercedes has vowed to confront the convicted murderer in prison in the hope that she will someday show remorse after what critics call a lenient sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
“My plan is to give her a visit in prison, in a few months or maybe a year, and I will ask her that question directly,” said Nancy Iskander, the mother of 8-year-old Jacob and 11-year-old Mark. “I will say, ‘Are you able to say, “I am sorry I killed them?”’ This will allow me to forgive, because I need to get through what she’s done.”
Iskander was forced to dive to safety with her youngest son, Zachary, who was 5 at the time, when Rebecca Grossman, a 60-year-old co-founder of a prominent burn center and a wealthy Los Angeles philanthropist, sped toward them at more than 80 mph.
LOS ANGELES SOCIALITE REBECCA GROSSMAN GETS 15 YEARS TO LIFE FOR CRASH THAT KILLED 2 BOYS
Mark and Jacob Iskander were both killed when Rebecca Grossman sped through a crosswalk while racing home from a boozy date in 2020. (Nancy and Karim Iskander)
The mother and surviving son watched in horror as Grossman slammed into Mark and Jacob at an estimated 81 mph. Then she fled the scene.
Grossman, who prosecutors described as a “completely self-serving” narcissist, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and fleeing the scene of an accident for the Sept. 29, 2020, crash, but not without a number of dramatic curveballs in the case.
“She has lived a life of privilege and clearly felt that her wealth and notoriety would buy her freedom,” prosecutors wrote to the court while requesting the maximum allowable sentence of 34 years to life in prison.
According to prosecutors, even after her conviction she refused to take responsibility for the deaths, which jurors found were murders and not a “tragic accident.”
On Friday, Judge Joseph Brandolino sentenced her to two concurrent terms of 15 years to life in prison plus another three years for fleeing the scene that will also run concurrently. California legal experts tell Fox News Digital she could be eligible for parole in just eight years.
MOTHER OF SLAIN CALIFORNIA BOYS SPEAKS OUT AS CONVICTED KILLER DRAGS OUT CASE IN COURT: ‘SHE’S A MURDERER’
Rebecca Grossman, left, and daughter head to Van Nuys Courthouse in West Van Nuys, California. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
One glaring issue with the sentencing, in Iskander’s view, is that Grossman’s sentences were not imposed to run consecutively, which the mother says reduces the murders of two boys as if they were one person and completely erases Grossman’s attempt to flee the scene and avoid justice altogether.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to accept that … or even understand the judge’s point of view,” she told Fox News Digital.
LA DA’S CATASTROPHIC INCOMPETENCE’ COULD BOTCH CASE AGAINST CONVICTED DOUBLE CHILD KILLER, LAWYER WARNS
Karim Iskander, right, and wife Nancy arrive for Rebecca Grossman’s sentencing on June 10, 2024, in Van Nuys, California. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The concurrent sentences for a suspect who prosecutors said showed no remorse is unusually lenient, according to Garrett Dameron, a supervisor in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office who oversaw the line prosecutors on the case.
In contrast, a man in nearby Ventura County received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison for the deaths of a woman and her granddaughter who were riding together on a motorcycle when he smashed into them head-on while driving high.
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A sign shows an image of Mark Iskander, 11, left, and his brother, Jacob, 8, outside a Van Nuys courthouse. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“She basically showed no regard for the way our justice system works, and he rewards her with basically the lightest sentence he can give her,” Dameron told Fox News Digital. “It’s deeply offensive.”
While behind bars, Grossman was accused of attempted juror tampering and repeatedly violating court orders. Prosecutors say she also tried to release sealed evidence to the public and to contact witnesses.
“The defendant’s actions from September 29, 2020, through today show a complete lack of remorse and narcissistic superiority that leads to only one conclusion, that she is undeserving of any leniency,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo.
CALIFORNIA SOCIALITE REBECCA GROSSMAN ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL IN HIT-AND-RUN DEATHS OF 2 CHILDREN
Jacob Iskander (Nancy and Karim Iskander)
Iskander said Grossman even made an anonymous donation of $25,000 toward the boys’ funeral costs, which the mother argues violated her right to refuse the killer’s money.
“She essentially attempted to buy her way out of this,” Dameron said. “Never has she once shown a modicum of remorse or sympathy or never has she even hinted at taking responsibility for this. And my issue with the judge is he had made comments throughout the trial that he didn’t like the murder charges in this case. Instead of objectively pronouncing [the] sentence as he should’ve, I think he’s attempting to legislate from the bench.”
Grossman’s lawyer, James Spertus, said the judge gave a thoughtful and detailed explanation for the sentence, adding that Grossman is a first-time criminal offender who had a decades-old reputation for humanitarian work.
“This case involves a tragic accident that resulted in incalculable loss to the Iskanders, so it is understandable they would be disappointed in any sentence short of the death penalty,” he told Fox News Digital. “However, I expected more maturity and professionalism from the prosecutors.”
Nancy Iskander and her three sons, Mark, Jacob and Zachary (Nancy and Karim Iskander)
‘WOKE’ CALIFORNIA PROSECUTOR ‘IRONICALLY IN CHARGE OF ETHICS’ CHARGED WITH FELONIES
Grossman was speeding, had alcohol and drugs in her system, and plowed through the boys as they made their way through a crosswalk with their mother and younger brother. Court documents show she had a series of traffic citations going back to at least 2000.
Then, according to Iskander, she tormented the family for years with her legal maneuvering and alleged attempts to tamper with witnesses and the jury.
She explained that she constantly has flashbacks to the day of the crime, the sight of Mark and Jacob on the road.
“I keep living it every day, every minute of every day,” she said. “How can he just ignore something like that?”
Nancy Iskander and her husband, Karim, are shown outside court in Van Nuys, California. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Following the horror, the boys’ parents and younger brother have devoted themselves to helping others, kicking off a charitable foundation in honor of Mark and Jacob and launching a foster care project that will soon be licensed in Los Angeles.
Zachary, now 8, is preparing to go on his first mission overseas to help build houses in memory of his brothers, Iskander said.
“I had always wanted them to wait until their teen years, but he wants to do something to honor his brothers,” she said.
She is hoping to raise money for The Mark & Jacob Foundation at an Oct. 20 event and for the forthcoming Mark & Jacob Foster Care Ministry.
Iskander also said she is willing to help other parents suffering through the trauma of losing their children.
“I just want to say to anyone listening, if they have a tragedy, if they are broken, to keep their faith,” she said.
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New Mexico hospitals ranked for patient safety
New Mexico hospitals were ranked for patient safety by Leapfrog in its 2026 spring Hospital Safety Grade report.
With less than a week before the 2026 Primary Election nearly 95,000 New Mexicans have voted early.
Expanded early voting began May 16 and will end on May 30. The Primary Election is June 2.
According to data released on May 26 by the Secretary of State’s Office, there have been 94,930 ballots cast since early voting began on May 4.
In Doña Ana County, there have been 6,294 voters in Doña Ana County who voted early. There have been 4,706 Democrats who have voted early with 1,567 Republicans and 646 who declined to state a party affiliation. There have been 2,023 residents who have voted absentee.
New Mexico has semi-open primary elections, which means voters who are not registered with a qualified political party may also participate in the election by selecting which major party’s ballot they want to vote on without changing their voter registration.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, there have been 9,000 voters in New Mexico who were not registered with qualified political parties, who have voted in the Primary Election ― 6,962 who voted in the Democrat Primary and 2,038 who have voted in the Republican Primary.
In Doña Ana County, 516 voters who were not registered with qualified political parties have voted in the Democrat Primary and 134 who voted in the Republican Primary.
Approximately 90,000 New Mexicans utilized early voting ahead of the 2024 Primary Election and 5,848 people voted early in Doña Ana County (4,195 Democrats, 18 Libertarian, 1,635 Republicans).
The total 2022 Primary Election turnout for the county was 16.41% or 15,499 ballots cast and the 2020 Primary Election turnout was 29.29% or 26,055 ballots cast.
Where to vote in Doña Ana County
Early voting at the Doña Ana County Government Center began on May 5 from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until May 29, and on Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m.
Alternate site early voting locations will begin on May 16 at 11 a.m., and run through May 30 from Tuesday through Saturday.
The alternate site locations in Doña Ana County are:
- Anthony Library (750 Landers Anthony)
- HVPS Student Services (350 Main St. Hatch)
- Doña Ana County Community College (755 Prescott Anthony Dr. Chaparral)
- Doña Ana County Community College (2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Las Cruces)
- Doña Ana County Community College (3365 McNutt Rd. Sunland Park)
- Las Cruces City Hall (700 N. Main St. Las Cruces)
- Mesilla Town Hall (2231 Avenida de Mesilla Mesilla)
- Corbett Center Student Union (1600 International Mall Las Cruces)
Doña Ana County voting locations on Election Day are open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. Mailed ballots must be received no later than 7 p.m.
Top astronomy stories of 2026
Astronomy stories of 2026 include the return of a total solar eclipse to the Artemis II mission that aims for humans returning to the moon in the future.
Oregonians who may have missed this month’s full moon have a second chance as a rare “once‑in‑a‑blue‑moon” micromoon will rise on May 31.
The moon cycles through eight phases over roughly 29.5 days. While its brightness can be striking, each full moon also carries its own cultural and symbolic meaning, often linked to the time of year.
The second full moon will arrive on May 31, making it a blue moon, as it is the second full moon in the same calendar month. Such an event only occurs every couple of years.
It will also be a micromoon, which occurs when the full moon appears smaller and dimmer than usual because it is at the farthest point in its orbit from Earth, known as its apogee. Micromoons typically happen two to four times annually.
Here’s what to know about the May 2026 blue moon.
When are the second May 2026 full moon?
The blue moon will appear at the end of the month on May 31. It will reach peak illumination at 1:45 a.m. PDT, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Where does the blue moon get its nickname?
Full moon names have long been used to track the seasons, with many originating from Native American and early colonial traditions.
The term blue moon, despite its name, has nothing to do with the moon’s color. Its modern meaning became widely used after a 1946 article in Sky & Telescope magazine mistakenly defined it, a definition that later stuck, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.
What are the two types of blue moon?
There are two ways a blue moon can occur.
One is when two full moons fall within a single calendar month, like they will this May. This is called a calendrical blue moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The other happens when there are four full moons in a single astronomical season instead of the usual three. In that case, the third full moon is considered a seasonal blue moon.
The May 2026 blue moon will also be a micromoon
The blue moon at the end of May will also be a micromoon.
A micromoon occurs when the full moon happens near apogee, the point where the moon is farthest from Earth. Because of that distance, the moon can appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual, the opposite of a supermoon.
How often can Oregonians see a blue moon?
Blue moons typically occur every two to three years. The next calendrical blue moons are expected in December 2028 and September 2031.
The next seasonal blue moon will be May 2027.
Where are the best places to see the blue moon?
Oregon is home to seven dark sky places including:
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at@GinnieSandoval.
SALT LAKE CITY — The future of flight appears poised for takeoff in Utah, with influential leaders at the state and federal level voicing their support and detailing their efforts to bring air mobility to the Beehive State during Utah aerospace and defense company 47G’s inaugural Project Alta Summit.
The summit convenes aviation and transit experts at national and global levels with a shared goal of bringing electric and autonomous aircraft into operational use across transportation networks, emergency medical response and critical logistics systems.
Day 1 of the summit wrapped up with a conversation between Carlos Braceras, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy.
Braceras opened by telling Kennedy a story about a trip he took to Singapore in 2019 for the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress. While there, he had the chance not just to sit in, but to fly an aircraft reminiscent of the air taxis showcased by Project ALTA.
“After 2019, I thought, you know, we’re right on the cusp of this becoming something that we all use every day, all day long,” Braceras said. “As I look at where we are right now … I’m a little frustrated with the lack of speed there has been in this idea of the connected autonomous vehicle.”
Braceras pointed out that his main draw toward autonomous air mobility is the impact it could have on crashes and accidents that claim the lives of some 40,000 Americans annually.
He added that he sees Utah as the place where autonomous aircraft will, quite literally, get off the ground — a sentiment shared by Kennedy.
Kennedy noted that at the federal level, policy is quite hard to advance, even saying that the system is “designed to slow things down and destroy things.” He doesn’t think Utah suffers from the same affliction.
“What we have in Utah, though, is an organized, orchestrated willingness to work together, Democrats and Republicans. As a state legislator for 10 years, I saw this regularly. We were willing to work together for the common good of our people,” Kennedy said.
When it comes to air mobility, Kennedy said Utah benefits from an ecosystem where its politicians at the state and federal levels are eager to work with the state’s universities, businesses, military bases and agencies like UDOT to advance the air mobility mission.
The Federal Aviation Administration in March selected Utah as one of eight projects nationwide for the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program, a three-year initiative designed to help safely integrate advanced aircraft into the national airspace.
“We were given one of those spaces, even though we’re small. And the reason why we were given that is because not only are we willing to unite together, but we are a forward-looking people. We care about the future. We see the future,” Kennedy said.
As part of the program and through an initiative called “uFly,” Utah will lead a collaboration between Oregon, Idaho, Arizona and Oklahoma — along with industry partners and research institutions — to test new aviation technology and gather data that will inform the future of electric flight.
Partners with UDOT in the initiative include Beta Technologies, Ampaire, Joby Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Future Flight Global, Alpine Air, Jump Aero and Utah aerospace and defense company 47G.
Braceras emphasized not letting “perfect be our enemy” when it comes to the buildout of air mobility systems.
Kennedy echoed this feeling, saying overregulation could lead to “international adversaries like China” outpacing the U.S. when it comes to developing air mobility.
“That is not going to be good for our national security,” Kennedy warned.
The summit will conclude on Wednesday. A full lineup of speakers and events can be found here.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
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