Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old schoolteacher in Philadelphia, was found dead in her locked apartment on January 26, 2011, after returning home early from work due to a snowstorm. Her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, discovered her body after forcing open the door when she did not respond. The circumstances of her death, including multiple stab wounds and no signs of forced entry, have fueled years of legal and public debate over whether her death was self-inflicted or a result of foul play. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office has now reaffirmed that Greenberg’s death was a suicide, following a new review of the case, despite ongoing challenges from her family. The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from her attorney, Joseph Podraza Jr., who accused the medical examiner of conducting a ‘deeply flawed’ investigation that ignored key evidence.
In 2011, the initial ruling was homicide, but it was later changed to suicide by Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Marlon Osbourne after meeting with Philadelphia Police investigators. Chief Medical Examiner Lindsay Simon led the recent review as part of a settlement with Greenberg’s parents, who have spent years contesting the suicide finding. The family’s legal battle was fueled by claims that the medical examiner ignored contradictory evidence, such as 3D photogrammetry findings which suggest Greenberg could not have inflicted all the wounds herself. Podraza pointed to several issues with the report, including a false claim that a stab wound in Greenberg’s spinal column was made during the autopsy, a theory rejected by all credible experts. He also highlighted the lack of evidence of an abusive relationship, missing surveillance footage, and the intact lock on the apartment door as further contradictions to the suicide ruling.
Despite these concerns, the report concluded that the manner of death should remain classified as suicide, stating that Ellen ‘would be capable of inflicting these injuries herself’ due to her history of anxiety. The family’s attorney called the decision an ‘embarrassment to the City’ and an ‘insult to Ellen and her family,’ emphasizing that they continue to seek justice through other avenues. The case has drawn public attention, with many arguing that the medical examiner’s conclusion fails to consider the complex circumstances of the death. Fox News Digital attempted to reach the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office and the City of Philadelphia Law Department for comment, but no statements were provided. The ongoing scrutiny over Greenberg’s death highlights the challenges in determining the cause of death in cases with ambiguous evidence and the potential for legal battles to persist for years, even after initial rulings are made.