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California mom who watched rich and powerful 'narcissist' mow down her two sons makes promise to killer

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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)

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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.

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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

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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.

FORMER MLB PITCHER SCOTT ERICKSON MADE THREATS AFTER HE WAS SEEN HIDING NEAR FATAL CRASH, DAUGHTER SAYS

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)

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“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)

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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)

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‘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?”

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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. 

  

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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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Tarot influencer’s claims in Idaho college murders case spark courtroom reckoning

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Tarot influencer’s claims in Idaho college murders case spark courtroom reckoning

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A federal jury in Boise awarded $10 million to a University of Idaho professor after finding a Texas TikToker financially liable for spreading false claims that linked her to the 2022 stabbing deaths of four college students.

The decision came Friday in U.S. District Court in the case of Scofield v. Guillard. Jurors awarded $7.5 million in punitive damages and $2.5 million in compensatory damages, according to court records and reporting by the Idaho Statesman.

Professor Rebecca Scofield, who chairs the university’s history department, filed suit in December 2022 against Houston resident Ashley Guillard. The lawsuit stemmed from a series of TikTok videos in which Guillard alleged, without evidence, that Scofield had a romantic relationship with one of the victims and arranged the killings.

The victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, were stabbed to death in a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. The crime drew nationwide attention and left the campus community reeling.

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Ashley Guillard posted TikTok videos falsely linking a University of Idaho professor to the Idaho college murders, leading to a defamation lawsuit. (TikTok/ashleyisinthebookoflife4)

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Authorities later arrested Bryan Kohberger, a criminology doctoral student at nearby Washington State University at the time. He ultimately pleaded guilty in a deal that spared him the death penalty and is now serving four consecutive life sentences in an Idaho state prison.

In a statement to Fox News Digital following the verdict, Scofield expressed gratitude to the jury and said she hopes to close a painful chapter.

“I want to thank the jury for their time and attention to this case. The judge had already ruled as a matter of law that the statements were false. The $10 million verdict reinforces the judge’s decision and sends the clear message that false statements online have consequences in the real world for real people and are unacceptable in our community,” Scofield said.

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BRYAN KOHBERGER FIGHTS $27K RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS’ FAMILIES WHILE TAKING MONEY BEHIND BARS

University of Idaho students from left to right: Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. All four were stabbed to death in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. (Jazzmin Kernodle via AP/Instagram/ @kayleegoncalves)

“The murders of the four students on November 13, 2022, was the darkest chapter in our university’s history. Today’s decision shows that respect and care should always be granted to victims during these tragedies. I am hopeful that this difficult chapter in my life is over, and I can return to a more normal life with my family and the wonderful Moscow community.”

Court filings show that in June 2024, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Patricco determined that Guillard’s statements were legally defamatory, leaving only the question of monetary damages for a jury to decide.

According to the complaint, Guillard began posting videos in late November 2022 claiming Scofield had secretly been involved with one of the students and had “ordered” the killings. The lawsuit states Scofield had never met any of the victims and was out of state when the murders occurred.

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IDAHO MURDER VICTIMS’ FAMILIES EXPRESS OUTRAGE AFTER CRIME SCENE PHOTOS ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED

People lay flowers and pay respects at the University of Idaho on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Four students were murdered in Moscow, Idaho over the weekend. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

The filing further alleges that Guillard continued publishing the accusations even after receiving cease-and-desist letters and after police publicly indicated Scofield was not connected to the crime.

At the time, Guillard’s TikTok account had garnered more than 100,000 followers, with some of the videos receiving millions of interactions, according to court documents.

Scofield’s legal team argued the statements amounted to defamation because they accused her of criminal conduct and professional misconduct that could jeopardize her academic career.

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During the damages trial, Scofield described the emotional toll of seeing her name associated with the murders online, according to the Idaho Statesman. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before returning their verdict, the outlet reported.

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Guillard, who represented herself in court, has maintained that her statements were expressions of belief tied to tarot card readings, according to courtroom coverage.

It was not immediately known whether she intends to appeal. Fox News Digital has reached out to Guillard for comment.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

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San Francisco, CA

5 teens, 3 adults arrested in San Francisco double stabbing at Dolores Park

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5 teens, 3 adults arrested in San Francisco double stabbing at Dolores Park



Three adults and five juveniles were arrested after two people were stabbed on Wednesday at San Francisco’s Dolores Park, police said.

The San Francisco Police Department said officers responded at about 4:50 p.m. to a report of a group of people fighting at the park. On the way there, the officers were notified that there was a possible stabbing, police said.

When officers arrived, they found two men with stab wounds, and the officers began first aid before medics arrived. Both men were taken to the hospital, one with life-threatening injuries, police said.

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Officers searched the area around the park and detained eight people; they were all arrested after investigators developed probable cause, police said. The adults were identified as 18-year-old Fernando Moreno Hernandez, 18-year-old David Paz, and 19-year-old Yeferson Mondragon-Ortiz. Each was booked into the San Francisco County Jail.

The five teenagers were taken and booked into the city’s Juvenile Justice Center.

All suspects were charged with attempted murder, conspiracy, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon.  

Police said the case was still under active investigation, and anyone with information was asked to contact the department at 415-575-4444, or send a text to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

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Denver, CO

Ranking the Broncos free agent needs on offense

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Ranking the Broncos free agent needs on offense


NFL Free Agency opens up on Wednesday, with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday. The top free agents usually all commit to a team during that period, so be ready to rock and roll to start next week.

I figured now would be a good time to do a little discussion around the Denver Broncos and where we think their top priorities should be on offense when free agency kicks off.

Broncos top FA needs on offense

Tim Lynch: For free agency, I’d say running back and tight end are the highest on my wish list.

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I’d say pay big for a top free agent running back and ensure you have a monster two-headed backfield next season. They need a superior run-blocking tight end and, if they move on from Evan Engram, a pass-catcher too.

Christopher Hart: I agree with Tim. Those are the biggest needs for the offense. Getting a top-notch running back and a tight end capable of playing inline to replace Adam Trautman is a must. The two players I advocated a few weeks ago were running back Travis Etienne and tight end Cade Otton. Both would be fantastic additions and help take Denver’s offense to the next level in 2026.

Scotty Payne: Playmaker is the top and biggest need. That includes a RB, TE, and/or WR in that order.

Need to improve the run game regardless, need some sort of production out of the TEs as well as improved blocking, and if they can get a true WR1, that would be great too.

Ross Allen: I think we’re all in agreement.

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Getting someone who can be the dominant running back and have RJ Harvey serve that glamorous “joker” role would be huge for this offense. And given that they also don’t have a legitimate playmaker at the receiving position hurts them. A TE or WR can fill that role.

Sadaraine: The #1 need for the Broncos on offense is a top-notch running back. I will be blown away if the Broncos don’t sign a top-tier free agent running back to upgrade the offense (and no, J.K. Dobbins wouldn’t be that guy…not with his injury history).

There’s a significant gap in need after that until we start talking about tight ends and receivers. I think we’re more likely to see more money spent on a tight end than a receiver, but this offense could use both to be sure.

Ian St. Clair: Not to beat a dead horse, but running back is the biggest need and priority for this team when free agency starts. Having a consistent and effective running game will make Nix and the offense exponentially better. It will make the team better. After running back, the Broncos need to figure out their tight end.

Adam Malnati: Give Bo a weapon. I don’t care which position. Yes, RB is a need. Yes, TE is a need (thanks a lot Evan Engram). Still, a weapon would be nice.

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Predictably, we’re all heavily keyed in on running back and tight end. That was a big part of our free agent profile coverage too and for good reason. There have been many rumors around Denver looking to target both positions next week and where there is smoke there is usually fire.

The question really becomes: go big or go affordable? With the championship window open, I’m leaning go big on premium play-maker positions this offseason.

Where do you stand on this discussion? Give us your top free agent needs on offense and how you hope the Broncos address them next week.



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