New developments have emerged in a 14-year-old investigation into the violent death of a first-grade teacher.
In January 2011, Ellen Greenberg was discovered lifeless on the kitchen floor of her Philadelphia apartment, a 10-inch knife embedded in her chest.
Despite having up to 20 stab wounds, with 10 located on her torso and another 10 on the back of her head and neck, the 27-year-old’s demise was classified as a suicide.
The young teacher was found in a pool of blood by her fiancé, Sam Goldberg.
Goldberg informed police that after forcing his way into the apartment, he discovered her on the kitchen floor and attempted CPR until emergency personnel arrived.
The case became puzzling as investigators found no evidence of forced entry, neighbors heard no unusual noises, and there were no defensive injuries on the woman.
Greenberg’s parents stated there was no cause to suspect Goldberg, and a psychiatrist confirmed she was content in the relationship without any signs of abuse.
Authorities attributed her death to possible suicidal thoughts influenced by her anxiety and sleep medications, although no one close to her recalled her expressing such thoughts.
The Assistant Philadelphia Medical Examiner, Marlon Osbourne, initially classified her death as a homicide but later altered it to a suicide due to her anxiety history.
Her untimely death stirred debate, and her grieving parents have consistently believed their daughter was murdered.
In a previous interview with the Daily Mail, her father expressed disbelief: “Ellen stabbing herself 20 times before dying is bulls**t. She died from a very vicious, very painful knife attack.”
Joseph Podraza, the attorney for her parents, informed Fox News that the knife was never checked for fingerprints and signs of a struggle were present in the apartment.
In 2019, Joshua and Sandee Greenberg filed a lawsuit against the Medical Examiner’s office and Osbourne, which the Commonwealth Court initially dismissed in September 2023.
However, the Greenbergs appealed the decision, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allowed the case to proceed.
Now, the family has reached an agreement with the office, contingent upon the city pathologist who performed the autopsy reopening the case due to ‘additional information’, according to The Washington Post.
Osbourne stated: “Based on my consideration of the new information brought to my attention after leaving my position as Medical Examiner for the City of Philadelphia, along with my original autopsy findings and information considered while I was actively involved in Ellen’s case, it is my professional opinion Ellen’s manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide.”
Osbourne added: “I am now aware that information exists which draws into question, for example, whether Ellen’s fiancé was witnessed entering the apartment before placing the 9-1-1 call on Jan. 26, 2011; whether the door was forced open as reported; whether Ellen’s body was moved by someone else inside the apartment with her at or near the time of her death; and the findings of Lindsey Emery, M.D. from her neuropathological evaluation of Ellen’s cervical segment sample.”
Podraza commented to Fox News: “It’s a tremendous statement by Dr. Osbourne, as far as I’m concerned, and a courageous one. The only thing unfortunate about it is how late in time it came.”
Goldberg previously told CNN in December 2024: “When Ellen took her own life it left me bewildered. She was a wonderful and a kind person who had everything to live for. When she died a part of me died with her.
“Unimaginably, in the years that have passed I have had to endure the unimaginable passing of my future wife and the pathetic and despicable attempts to desecrate my reputation and her privacy by creating a narrative that embraces lies, distortions and falsehoods in order to avoid the truth. Mental illness is very real and has many victims.”
Ava Schwemler, spokesperson for the City of Philadelphia Law Department, informed The Washington Post that an ‘independent review of the autopsy file’ will now take place.