- Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher, died in 2011 with 20 stab wounds, initially ruled a suicide
- Her parents have been fighting for over a decade to change the manner of death to homicide or undetermined
- Experts hired by the family concluded the evidence was consistent with a homicide scene
- The case has received extensive media coverage and legal action, with the Chester County District Attorney’s office reopening the investigation in 2022
- In 2023, an appellate court upheld the suicide ruling but criticized the police investigation as “deeply flawed”
Ellen Rae Greenberg, a 27-year-old first grade teacher in Philadelphia, died on January 26, 2011, after sustaining 20 stab wounds. Her death was initially ruled a suicide, but her parents have been fighting for over a decade to have the manner of death changed to homicide or undetermined.
Wiki and Bio Details
| Name | Ellen Rae Greenberg |
| Born | June 23, 1983 in New York City, New York |
| Died | January 26, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (age 27) |
| Occupation | First grade teacher at Juniata Park Academy |
| Fiancé | Samuel Goldberg |
| Cause of Death | 20 stab wounds, initially ruled suicide |
The Incident
On the day of her death, Greenberg left work early due to a blizzard and returned to her apartment, where her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, later found her body. The crime scene was initially treated as a suicide, but the autopsy led the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office to initially rule the case as a homicide. However, the next day, the Philadelphia Police Department backtracked and stated that the death was being considered suspicious but not ruled a homicide.
Controversy and Investigation
The case has been surrounded by controversy and suspicion. Experts hired by Greenberg’s family, including forensic pathologist Cyril H. Wecht and forensic scientist Henry Lee, reviewed the case files and concluded that the number and types of wounds and bloodstain patterns were consistent with a homicide scene. They also noted that the stab wounds to Greenberg’s brain and spinal cord would have caused severe pain and traumatic brain injuries.
Justice for Ellen Rae Greenberg #justiceforellen – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/ogehUgw552 via @Change
— Vicky (@Vicky06957419) November 15, 2021
In 2019, the Philadelphia Inquirer released an investigative report that highlighted the suspicious circumstances surrounding Greenberg’s death. The report revealed that the crime scene had been cleaned up before police arrived with a search warrant, and that a security guard who Goldberg claimed was present when he found the body denied being there.
D’Andrea said, ‘He was perfectly within his rights to say no. You can’t compel someone to talk and once it had been ruled a suicide there was no case to answer.’
Forensic neuropathologist Wayne Ross found ‘evidence of strangulation’ and noted, ‘There were multiple bruises over the body some of which were fresh, many of which were older.’ He deemed Ellen’s death homicide
Famed forensic pathologist Cyril H Wecht, instructed on behalf of Ellen’s parents, noted that suicide victims rarely stab themselves multiple times or through their clothing as Ellen had been
The report by the medical examiner deems the manner of Ellen’s death a suicide
This is the investigative report into Ellen’s death along with several expert reports commissioned by the family
Legal Action and Media Coverage
In October 2019, Greenberg’s parents filed a civil suit against the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office and the pathologist who conducted the autopsy, seeking to change the manner of death to “homicide” or “undetermined”. The case has received extensive media coverage, including features on the Dr. Oz Show, People Magazine, 48 Hours, and Inside Edition.
In August 2022, the Chester County District Attorney’s office announced it would reopen the investigation into Greenberg’s death. However, in September 2023, an appellate court panel upheld the suicide ruling, despite criticizing the police investigation as “deeply flawed”. The judges noted that the evidence could support alternative conclusions about the manner of death and that the medical examiner’s office now acknowledges this.
FAQs
Q: Who found Ellen Greenberg’s body?
A: Ellen Greenberg’s fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, found her body in their apartment.
Q: Why is Ellen Greenberg’s death controversial?
A: Greenberg’s death is controversial because experts believe the evidence is consistent with a homicide scene, despite the initial suicide ruling. The case has been plagued by suspicious circumstances, including a cleaned-up crime scene and inconsistencies in witness statements.
Q: Has anyone been charged in Ellen Greenberg’s death?
A: No one has been charged in Greenberg’s death, despite her parents’ efforts to have the manner of death changed to homicide. The case remains open, with the Chester County District Attorney’s office reopening the investigation in 2022.
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Last Updated on July 12, 2024 by 247 News Around The World
