The mysterious 2011 death of 27-year-old teacher Ellen Greenberg is getting a fresh look. After years of pushing for answers, her parents have finally won a major victory—the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office has agreed to reopen the case.
Ellen was found dead in her Philadelphia apartment with 20 stab wounds, including injuries to her chest, abdomen, head, and even the back of her neck. Her fiancé, Sam Goldberg, was the one who discovered her body. He told police he had returned home to find the apartment’s swing bar lock in place. After forcing his way in, he found Ellen with a 10-inch knife lodged in her chest.
At first, authorities ruled her death a homicide. But in a shocking turn, they later changed it to suicide, citing the fact that only Ellen’s DNA was found on the knife and her clothing. However, her parents, Joshua and Sandra Greenberg, have never accepted that explanation. They’ve spent years fighting to prove that their daughter was murdered.
Now, their persistence is paying off. As part of a legal settlement, the city will take another look at Ellen’s case. The decision comes after a former Philadelphia medical examiner, Marlon Osbourne, admitted that he made a mistake when he changed the ruling to suicide. In a sworn statement, Osbourne said that after reviewing all the evidence again, he now believes Ellen’s death should not have been classified as a suicide.
The Greenbergs’ attorney, Joseph Podraza, says the family never wanted money—they just wanted the truth. He called Osbourne’s statement “tremendous and courageous,” though he wished it had come much sooner.
The case has left many people questioning how someone with 20 stab wounds—many in places difficult to reach—could have taken her own life. With the investigation being reopened, Ellen’s family hopes this time, they’ll finally get the justice they’ve been fighting for.