New revelations have emerged from the WhatsApp messages of convicted child killer Rebecca Grossman, giving a rare and intimate glimpse into her tangled personal life during the height of her murder trial.
The texts show Grossman admitting to her lover, former World Series pitcher Scott Erickson, that her return to her husband, Dr Peter Grossman, was motivated in large part by his financial support for her legal defense.
Love, Money, and Legal Battles
Grossman, 62, and Erickson, 57, maintained communication via WhatsApp throughout her murder trial, continuing up to the very day the jury found her guilty.
While her criminal lawyers tried to pin the blame for the deadly crash that killed two young brothers on Erickson, the messages suggest a complex web of personal and financial considerations influencing Grossman’s choices.
A Husband’s Loyalty Underlined
In one particularly revealing exchange, Grossman praised her husband Peter’s “immense loyalty” and acknowledged the enormous legal bills he was covering to defend her against the double murder charges.
She wrote that his dedication had “aged him” and that he was even planning to buy her an escape house in Texas to lift her spirits.
Despite this, she continued to express deep affection for Erickson, writing in early 2021, “I love being with you and you make me so happy,” and referring to him as a “hero” during “the darkest time of my life.”
Texts Provide Intimate Glimpse Into Affair
The WhatsApp exchanges, which are now part of documents filed for the upcoming civil trial, include multiple declarations of love and longing.
Grossman signed many messages with her maiden name, Rebecca Gray, as she and Erickson navigated the emotional highs and lows of their clandestine relationship.
At times, the texts read like love letters, with affectionate phrases and repeated “I love yous,” even as legal pressures mounted.
Civil Trial Sparks Legal Battles Over Messages
Grossman and Erickson are both named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Nancy and Karim Iskander, the parents of 11-year-old Mark and eight-year-old Jacob, who were killed when Grossman’s Mercedes struck them in Los Angeles in September 2020.
Erickson’s lawyers are pushing to keep the WhatsApp texts out of the upcoming civil trial, calling them “overwhelmingly irrelevant” and “highly prejudicial,” while the Iskanders argue the messages contain admissions and factual details about the fatal crash.
Tensions Spike During Murder Trial
The WhatsApp thread also captures the tension between Grossman and Erickson as her murder trial approached.
In late 2023, Grossman urged him to speak with her attorneys to clarify what happened the night of the crash, warning that her daughter’s testimony could otherwise damage his credibility.
Erickson’s replies were defensive, insisting he had “wasn’t there” and that any statements would not make him look bad.
The Verdict and Fallout
Even in the hours surrounding her conviction on February 23, 2024, the messages continued.
As the jury returned guilty verdicts for double murder, vehicular manslaughter, and hit-and-run, Erickson texted in disbelief: “What happened?” and “Unbelievable.”
Her teenage son Nick later intervened, telling Erickson to leave the family alone after Grossman was taken into custody.
Appeals and the Future
Grossman has appealed her convictions, arguing that her trial judge did not properly instruct the jury.
This week, California’s Second Appellate District heard oral arguments and is expected to issue a ruling later this year.
Meanwhile, the civil case against her and Erickson looms, with the WhatsApp messages at the center of legal wrangling, promising another dramatic chapter in a case already full of twists.
