Summary of TJ Weekly - Cece Woods

Overview of TJ Weekly - Cece Woods

This episode of TJ Weekly (Undisclosed) features investigative journalist Cece Woods (editor‑in‑chief, The Current Report) discussing her reporting on the Rebecca Grossman case — a 2020 Westlake Village, CA, crash that killed two young brothers (Mark and Jacob Iskander). Cece argues the mainstream narrative and prosecution are deeply flawed: evidence was mishandled or suppressed, key witnesses and vehicles weren’t properly investigated, jury bias and problematic jury instructions affected the criminal conviction (implied‑malice/depraved‑heart murder), and a parallel civil case is producing more discovery.

Key takeaways

• The crash (Sept 29, 2020) involved two SUVs and multiple other vehicles on a canyon road treated like a speedway. Rebecca Grossman was following former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson; Erickson was ahead by ~3 seconds.
• Two brothers on skates/skateboard were struck and killed. Multiple witnesses and some video show more than one car at/through the crosswalk; the medical examiner could not rule out multiple vehicles.
• Rebecca Grossman was convicted of implied‑malice ("depraved‑heart") murder and has been jailed; she was never criminally charged with DUI and was below the legal limit on blood tests ultimately.
• Cece asserts Scott Erickson was the lead car and likely struck the boys first. Erickson’s vehicle was never examined that night; some parts at the scene didn’t match Grossman’s car and later went missing.
• Erickson has taken the Fifth in civil depositions; he has prior DUI history. He received a much lighter criminal outcome (misdemeanor reckless driving initially) than Grossman.
• Evidence handling, jury impartiality (jurors on a Facebook community page), alleged judicial bias, and questionable prosecution strategy (upgrading to implied‑malice murder) are central problems raised.

Timeline (concise)

• Sept 29, 2020, ~7:10 PM — Crash on a Westlake Village canyon road; two boys killed.
• Night of crash — Rebecca stopped, stayed at scene, had trouble with a breath test and was taken for blood draw(s). Scott Erickson returned to scene on foot, did not identify himself, allegedly threatened a witness.
• Following investigation — Parts from scene logged then went missing; Scott’s car reportedly switched/altered before inspection.
• Criminal prosecution — Grossman charged and convicted of implied‑malice murder; not charged with DUI. Erickson not charged similarly at that time.
• Civil proceedings — Ongoing; depositions and discovery have revealed more material; Erickson has invoked Fifth in depositions. Civil trial scheduled (mentioned as April in episode).
• Appeals — Criminal appeals are pending.

Evidence & investigative claims raised by Cece Woods

• Missing/mismatched parts: Multiple car parts found at scene initially did not match Rebecca’s Mercedes (notably a fog‑light cover consistent with Erickson’s Mercedes). Those parts subsequently disappeared from evidence logs.
• Video: Private security video shows multiple vehicles moving through the crosswalk and cars evading something in the roadway; it does not clearly show the contact but helps corroborate multiple vehicles.
• Forensic contradictions: Media and some prosecutors repeatedly presented narrative of Grossman as the lead vehicle; Cece says the medical examiner explicitly could not rule out multiple vehicles and did not tie particular parts to Grossman’s car.
• Breath/blood testing: Grossman struggled with field breathalyzer (trauma response cited); multiple blood draws were reported in various accounts — ultimately no DUI charge.
• Witness issues: Some witnesses reportedly intimidated; one alleged hospital statement used by prosecutors (“I should be home in my garage now”) came to light via a Facebook post and is disputed by several deputies and other ER staff as hearsay.
• Handling of Scott Erickson: Erickson’s car was reportedly not examined the night of the crash, and Cece alleges it was swapped/repairs conducted; he called an attorney that night and later took the Fifth in civil depositions.

Legal issues and criticisms

• Charge selection: Grossman was tried and convicted of implied‑malice (depraved‑heart) murder rather than involuntary manslaughter; Cece and the hosts argue the facts better fit manslaughter or a lesser charge.
• Jury instruction concerns: Cece reports the jury instructions lacked language requiring a “high degree of probability that death would result,” which would be necessary to support the elevated murder theory. That omission, if true, could lower the prosecution’s burden.
• Juror impartiality: Evidence that some jurors (and even a prosecutor’s spouse) were active in a Justice for Mark and Jacob Iskander Facebook page raises the prospect of bias and improper exposure to pretrial public advocacy.
• Suppressed/missing evidence: Allegations that key physical evidence and investigative leads (Scott’s car, logged parts) were not pursued or disappeared; no court remedy is reported in the podcast.
• Judicial bias: Cece reports a high‑profile DA office insider saying Judge Brandolino “does not like Rebecca Grossman,” implying possible judicial partiality.
• Prosecutorial motivation: Cece contends newly sworn‑in DA George Gascón sought a high‑profile “win” to boost his image and thus pursued aggressive charges against Grossman.

Notable quotes / assertions

• Cece: “There is no mathematical way [Scott Erickson] missed those kids.”
• Cece: “He switched his car. Somebody was paid off.”
• Cece: “I believe he is 100% responsible.”
• Episode framing: “The unfair prosecution of Rebecca Grossman” (title of Cece’s recent piece).

Media, public response & context

• Mainstream coverage framed Grossman as a privileged, culpable defendant; Cece says that narrative dominated and obscured contradictory facts.
• Social media and the Justice for Mark and Jacob Iskander Facebook page have been a focal point for family advocacy and also for public pressure; Cece alleges that page has pushed a single‑narrative and been used to smear dissenting reporters.
• Cece says some reporters declined deeper reporting in favor of “the vibe” of the popular narrative.
• Cece discloses she has been retained by the defense to report on the case but maintains editorial control and a track record she describes as “blemish‑free.”

Current status and next steps (as of the episode)

• Criminal appeal for Grossman is pending; hearings were recently held (no final rulings discussed).
• Civil wrongful‑death litigation is active; discovery and depositions continue and are supplying new material (Erickson invoking the Fifth in deposition, additional witnesses).
• Cece plans ongoing investigative reporting and indicates more disclosures may follow ahead of/through the civil proceedings.

Where to read/watch further

• Cece Woods / The Current Report (series of pieces on this case): thecurrentreport.com (search Cece Woods / Rebecca Grossman).
• Civil complaint and court filings: publicly available via relevant LA County court records (look up wrongful‑death case for Mark and Jacob Iskander).
• The episode itself (Undisclosed) provides discussion and context; follow hosts and producers for updates (UndisclosedPod channels).

Action items / recommended follow-up for readers who want to dig deeper

• Read the civil complaint and depositions in the public record to see the plaintiffs’ theory and new discovery disclosures.
• Review Cece Woods’ reporting at TheCurrentReport for her documentation of logged evidence, missing items, and video screenshots she references.
• Check medical examiner testimony and transcripts for their language on multiple vehicles and on whether physical materials were tied to a specific car.
• Monitor criminal appeal filings and rulings for whether jury‑instruction, evidentiary‑suppression, or juror‑bias errors are raised/sustained.
• If interested in independent verification, seek local court records, police supplemental reports, and defense filings rather than relying solely on media summaries.

Disclaimer: this summary condenses the claims and reporting discussed on the podcast. Some assertions (e.g., missing evidence, vehicle switching, motives) are investigative claims made by Cece Woods and discussed by the hosts; they may be disputed by other parties and are part of ongoing litigation and appeals.