Death Of Ellen Greenberg
Suspicious Stabbing Death
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TIME PERIOD
January 26, 2011
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
Ellen Greenberg was found dead in her Manayunk, Philadelphia apartment on January 26, 2011, after sustaining 20 stab wounds, including 10 to her back and neck, along with 11 bruises. The incident occurred during a blizzard, and her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, discovered her body after returning from the gym and finding the apartment door secured. Initial investigations treated the case as a suicide; however, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office later ruled it a homicide, only for the police to revert to classifying it as a suspicious death. The case remains unresolved, with significant public interest and ongoing debate regarding the true manner of her death, compounded by the cleaning of the crime scene shortly after the incident.
Many believe that Ellen Greenberg's death was a homicide rather than a suicide, given the unusual nature of her injuries, including 20 stab wounds and multiple bruises. Some speculate that her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, may have played a role in her death, particularly due to the circumstances of the discovery and the secured apartment door. Additionally, there is ongoing debate about potential mishandling of the investigation and the influence of external factors leading to the official ruling of suicide.
The Mysterious Death of Ellen Greenberg
On a stormy winter day, January 26, 2011, the city of Philadelphia was blanketed by a relentless blizzard. Ellen Rae Greenberg, a dedicated first-grade teacher, decided to leave work early and retreat to the warmth of her Manayunk apartment. Little did anyone know, this decision would lead to one of the most perplexing and debated cases in recent history.
Background
Ellen Greenberg was born on June 23, 1983, in New York City to parents Josh and Sandee Greenberg. A bright student, she pursued communications at Penn State University before obtaining her teaching credentials from Temple University and Chestnut Hill College. At the time of her death, she was employed at Juniata Park Academy in Philadelphia. Ellen shared her apartment with her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, in the quaint neighborhood of Manayunk.
The Incident
As the snow fell heavily outside, Ellen was found dead in her apartment, having suffered 20 stab wounds, with ten of those to her back and neck. The scene was grim, marked by the presence of 11 bruises in varying stages on her right arm, abdomen, and right leg. At around 6:40 p.m., Samuel Goldberg returned from the gym to a troubling sight. The apartment door was locked with a swing latch from the inside. Unable to enter and after several failed attempts to contact Ellen, he forced the door open. Inside, he discovered Ellen's lifeless body.
Goldberg's 911 call was chilling; he claimed Ellen had "stabbed herself" and "fell on a knife." Initially, police considered the scene a suicide. However, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office soon ruled the death a homicide, only for the police to later declare the manner of death as "suspicious" rather than a clear-cut homicide. By February, the medical examiner controversially changed the ruling back to suicide.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The day following Ellen's death, her apartment was sanitized, a decision sanctioned by the police. James Schwartzman, Samuel Goldberg's uncle and a prominent figure in Pennsylvania's judicial system, entered the apartment to retrieve personal items belonging to Ellen and Samuel, including laptops and phones. This action raised eyebrows and was compounded when police subsequently returned with a search warrant to reassess the scene.
In 2018, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, led by Josh Shapiro, took over the investigation. By 2019, they closed the case, asserting that computer searches suggested suicide. However, the Greenberg family contested these findings, pointing out that the chain of custody for Ellen's devices had been compromised when Schwartzman took possession of them. Forensic examination of Ellen's electronics conducted by the Philadelphia Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory revealed no significant findings supporting the suicide theory.
The Greenberg family's legal team provided over 10 gigabytes of new evidence, including 3D analyses of the stab wounds and depositions from medical examiner officials. One deposition suggested Ellen was likely deceased before one of the stab wounds was inflicted. In July 2022, due to potential conflicts of interest involving familial connections, the case was transferred to the Chester County District Attorney's Office, which deemed the investigation inactive. The reliance on an expert without medical training was heavily criticized.
Further skepticism arose when renowned forensic pathologists Cyril H. Wecht and Henry Lee reviewed the case, both suggesting the evidence pointed more towards homicide than suicide. Particularly troubling were claims that some stab wounds penetrated Ellen's brain, which should have caused immediate incapacitation. Yet, a consulting neuropathologist, Lucy Balian Rorke-Adams, later stated she had no recollection of examining such evidence.
Controversies and Legal Action
Significant doubts surrounded the locked-door scenario. Initial reports suggested Goldberg had a security guard's assistance in breaking the door, a claim later contradicted by security footage and witness statements. Phone records further undermined Goldberg's relatives' assertions about being on the phone with him during the ordeal.
In October 2019, Ellen's parents filed a civil suit against the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office and Marlon Osbourne, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy. They sought to change the cause of death to "homicide" or "undetermined," fueled by new evidence and Osbourne's admission of changing the manner of death under police pressure. In January 2020, the case was allowed to proceed, and by February 2022, the Attorney General's office reaffirmed the suicide ruling, much to the family's dismay.
In August 2022, Chester County announced a reopening of the investigation. By July 2024, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania agreed to review challenges to Ellen's cause of death. In February 2025, a settlement was reached, prompting a re-investigation. Osbourne, no longer with the medical examiner's office, amended his stance, declaring the death should not be classified as a suicide, although his statement bore no legal weight on the death certificate.
Media Spotlight
The case of Ellen Greenberg captivated the public and the media. It featured in numerous programs and articles, including The Dr. Oz Show, People Magazine, 48 Hours, and more. The true crime community took a keen interest, with podcasts and documentaries delving into the intricacies of the case. A notable documentary, "Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?" premiered on Hulu in September 2025, further fueling the discourse surrounding this tragic and mystifying case.
Sources
For further details, you can explore the original Wikipedia article here.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Ellen Greenberg Found Dead
Ellen Greenberg is found dead in her apartment with 20 stab wounds.
Initial Ruling as Suicide
Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office initially rules Greenberg's death a suicide.
Case Taken Over by AG
Pennsylvania Attorney General's office takes over the investigation into Greenberg's death.
Investigative Report Released
The Philadelphia Inquirer publishes a report questioning the circumstances of Greenberg's death.
Lawsuit Filed
Greenberg's parents file a civil suit against the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office.
Investigation Reopened
Chester County District Attorney's office announces it will reopen the investigation into Greenberg's death.
Supreme Court Review
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania grants a petition to review challenges to Greenberg's cause of death.
Settlement Reached
A settlement is reached to reinvestigate Greenberg's death, with pathologist changing his ruling.
Ellen Greenberg was found dead in her Manayunk, Philadelphia apartment on January 26, 2011, after sustaining 20 stab wounds, including 10 to her back and neck, along with 11 bruises. The incident occurred during a blizzard, and her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, discovered her body after returning from the gym and finding the apartment door secured. Initial investigations treated the case as a suicide; however, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office later ruled it a homicide, only for the police to revert to classifying it as a suspicious death. The case remains unresolved, with significant public interest and ongoing debate regarding the true manner of her death, compounded by the cleaning of the crime scene shortly after the incident.
Many believe that Ellen Greenberg's death was a homicide rather than a suicide, given the unusual nature of her injuries, including 20 stab wounds and multiple bruises. Some speculate that her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, may have played a role in her death, particularly due to the circumstances of the discovery and the secured apartment door. Additionally, there is ongoing debate about potential mishandling of the investigation and the influence of external factors leading to the official ruling of suicide.
The Mysterious Death of Ellen Greenberg
On a stormy winter day, January 26, 2011, the city of Philadelphia was blanketed by a relentless blizzard. Ellen Rae Greenberg, a dedicated first-grade teacher, decided to leave work early and retreat to the warmth of her Manayunk apartment. Little did anyone know, this decision would lead to one of the most perplexing and debated cases in recent history.
Background
Ellen Greenberg was born on June 23, 1983, in New York City to parents Josh and Sandee Greenberg. A bright student, she pursued communications at Penn State University before obtaining her teaching credentials from Temple University and Chestnut Hill College. At the time of her death, she was employed at Juniata Park Academy in Philadelphia. Ellen shared her apartment with her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, in the quaint neighborhood of Manayunk.
The Incident
As the snow fell heavily outside, Ellen was found dead in her apartment, having suffered 20 stab wounds, with ten of those to her back and neck. The scene was grim, marked by the presence of 11 bruises in varying stages on her right arm, abdomen, and right leg. At around 6:40 p.m., Samuel Goldberg returned from the gym to a troubling sight. The apartment door was locked with a swing latch from the inside. Unable to enter and after several failed attempts to contact Ellen, he forced the door open. Inside, he discovered Ellen's lifeless body.
Goldberg's 911 call was chilling; he claimed Ellen had "stabbed herself" and "fell on a knife." Initially, police considered the scene a suicide. However, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office soon ruled the death a homicide, only for the police to later declare the manner of death as "suspicious" rather than a clear-cut homicide. By February, the medical examiner controversially changed the ruling back to suicide.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The day following Ellen's death, her apartment was sanitized, a decision sanctioned by the police. James Schwartzman, Samuel Goldberg's uncle and a prominent figure in Pennsylvania's judicial system, entered the apartment to retrieve personal items belonging to Ellen and Samuel, including laptops and phones. This action raised eyebrows and was compounded when police subsequently returned with a search warrant to reassess the scene.
In 2018, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, led by Josh Shapiro, took over the investigation. By 2019, they closed the case, asserting that computer searches suggested suicide. However, the Greenberg family contested these findings, pointing out that the chain of custody for Ellen's devices had been compromised when Schwartzman took possession of them. Forensic examination of Ellen's electronics conducted by the Philadelphia Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory revealed no significant findings supporting the suicide theory.
The Greenberg family's legal team provided over 10 gigabytes of new evidence, including 3D analyses of the stab wounds and depositions from medical examiner officials. One deposition suggested Ellen was likely deceased before one of the stab wounds was inflicted. In July 2022, due to potential conflicts of interest involving familial connections, the case was transferred to the Chester County District Attorney's Office, which deemed the investigation inactive. The reliance on an expert without medical training was heavily criticized.
Further skepticism arose when renowned forensic pathologists Cyril H. Wecht and Henry Lee reviewed the case, both suggesting the evidence pointed more towards homicide than suicide. Particularly troubling were claims that some stab wounds penetrated Ellen's brain, which should have caused immediate incapacitation. Yet, a consulting neuropathologist, Lucy Balian Rorke-Adams, later stated she had no recollection of examining such evidence.
Controversies and Legal Action
Significant doubts surrounded the locked-door scenario. Initial reports suggested Goldberg had a security guard's assistance in breaking the door, a claim later contradicted by security footage and witness statements. Phone records further undermined Goldberg's relatives' assertions about being on the phone with him during the ordeal.
In October 2019, Ellen's parents filed a civil suit against the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office and Marlon Osbourne, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy. They sought to change the cause of death to "homicide" or "undetermined," fueled by new evidence and Osbourne's admission of changing the manner of death under police pressure. In January 2020, the case was allowed to proceed, and by February 2022, the Attorney General's office reaffirmed the suicide ruling, much to the family's dismay.
In August 2022, Chester County announced a reopening of the investigation. By July 2024, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania agreed to review challenges to Ellen's cause of death. In February 2025, a settlement was reached, prompting a re-investigation. Osbourne, no longer with the medical examiner's office, amended his stance, declaring the death should not be classified as a suicide, although his statement bore no legal weight on the death certificate.
Media Spotlight
The case of Ellen Greenberg captivated the public and the media. It featured in numerous programs and articles, including The Dr. Oz Show, People Magazine, 48 Hours, and more. The true crime community took a keen interest, with podcasts and documentaries delving into the intricacies of the case. A notable documentary, "Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?" premiered on Hulu in September 2025, further fueling the discourse surrounding this tragic and mystifying case.
Sources
For further details, you can explore the original Wikipedia article here.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Ellen Greenberg Found Dead
Ellen Greenberg is found dead in her apartment with 20 stab wounds.
Initial Ruling as Suicide
Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office initially rules Greenberg's death a suicide.
Case Taken Over by AG
Pennsylvania Attorney General's office takes over the investigation into Greenberg's death.
Investigative Report Released
The Philadelphia Inquirer publishes a report questioning the circumstances of Greenberg's death.
Lawsuit Filed
Greenberg's parents file a civil suit against the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office.
Investigation Reopened
Chester County District Attorney's office announces it will reopen the investigation into Greenberg's death.
Supreme Court Review
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania grants a petition to review challenges to Greenberg's cause of death.
Settlement Reached
A settlement is reached to reinvestigate Greenberg's death, with pathologist changing his ruling.