Prosecutors are piecing together the events from the night when Rebecca Grossman struck two young boys in a crosswalk. Meanwhile, Grossman and her boyfriend have exchanged affectionate messages on WhatsApp, filled with declarations of love and reflections on their relationship.
These communications were unveiled amid a civil lawsuit stemming from the tragic crash in 2020 that killed Mark and Jacob Iskander in Westlake Village.
Days after the fatal incident on September 29, 2020, where the boys, aged 8 and 11, lost their lives, former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson, who was in a relationship with Grossman at the time, sent a light-hearted message regarding his kids.
At that time, Grossman was living apart from her husband, orthopedic surgeon Peter Grossman, and had been on a date with Erickson, who happened to be driving in front of her.
After their date, Grossman drove recklessly down a suburban street, crashing into the boys before stopping in her damaged vehicle nearby.
An array of messages spanning four years—included in the Iskanders’ wrongful death lawsuit against both Grossman and Erickson—reveals ongoing conversations between the couple. Interestingly, while Grossman’s legal team suggested Erickson was the driver when the boys were struck, their communication remained intense.
These messages surfaced as Grossman worked to overturn her double murder conviction.
Just weeks after the heartbreaking events of October 2020, their messages revealed an ongoing romance. Grossman texted Erickson on October 28, noting a metaphorical “broken heart” and asking about a small box by his bedside.
In December, she expressed gratitude for a music video, signing off with “LOVE YOU.”
However, as the legal proceedings progressed, tensions escalated. Erickson expressed disbelief when he learned Grossman’s team seemed to be shifting blame onto him.
“I can’t believe my ears today,” he wrote, outlining his concerns about the accusations being aimed at him. He articulated this further, stating, “We just lost our best witness.”
A few days later, Grossman insisted her legal team wasn’t implicating Erickson, trying to clarify the situation.
By February, Erickson’s frustration grew; he commented that “telling a crazy lie was a strange way to get to the truth.”
Not long after the accident, Mr. Grossman had already begun to influence Erickson’s legal approach.
Erickson has persistently denied any link to the crash while still maintaining casual communication with Grossman throughout the trials even after she suggested he was involved.
In February 2024, Grossman received a text from Erickson the morning of her verdict, wishing her luck. After she was convicted, he expressed his disbelief in another message.
Grossman’s son, Nick, eventually intervened, urging Erickson to cease communication with their family.
Grossman attempted to distance herself from Erickson in early 2021, indicating a desire to focus on her husband, Peter, who had been financially and emotionally supportive during her legal struggles.
Grossman was later convicted of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter, and hit-and-run, and received a 15-year prison sentence. She’s now pursuing a new trial, arguing that the judge mishandled jury instructions.
Evidence presented at her trial showed she was driving at excessive speeds shortly before the crash.
Her attorney, while highlighting the harsh conditions of prison life, argued the jury lacked sufficient information to support a murder conviction.
The Iskander family didn’t attend the recent hearing but are reportedly seeking a fresh start away from California. A family friend expressed disbelief at Grossman’s failure to take accountability, emphasizing the traumatic impact on the victims’ family.
Legal representatives for the Iskander family insisted that critical evidence should not be obscured due to its discomforting nature, stating that romantic ties led to misaligned narratives and interests between Grossman and Erickson.
The WhatsApp exchanges are part of a motion to remove them from the upcoming wrongful death trial set for April.
There has been no comment from Erickson’s attorney regarding this ongoing case.
The civil trial is set to commence on April 13 at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
