Who was Ellen Greenberg? How her death by 20 stab wounds and knife in chest was ruled as suicide

In a case that has baffled both experts and the public for over a decade, the 2011 death of 27-year-old Pennsylvania teacher Ellen Greenberg remains shrouded in controversy. Found with 20 stab wounds—including to her neck, back, and head—and a 10-inch knife lodged in her chest, Ellen's death was initially ruled a homicide. But shockingly, it was later reclassified as a suicide, leaving her family in a relentless pursuit of answers.

Crime scene that defied logic
On January 26, 2011, Ellen was discovered by her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, in the kitchen of their shared Manayunk apartment. Her body was slumped against the cabinets, legs outstretched, and the brutal extent of her injuries was undeniable. Stab wounds peppered her back and neck, and one fatal strike embedded a knife in her chest, as per the report by the Independent.

Philadelphia pathologist Marlon Osbourne first ruled Ellen’s death a homicide. However, as police began investigating, they contested this conclusion, leading to a shocking reversal: her death was reclassified as a suicide.

Family’s fight for truth
For Ellen's parents, Joshua and Sandra Greenberg, the suicide ruling defies all logic. “Twenty stab wounds, many of them to places she couldn’t have reached herself, and they want us to believe she did this to herself? It’s outrageous,” Ellen’s father, Joshua, was quoted as saying outside Philadelphia City Hall on Wednesday.

The Greenbergs argue that the investigation was mishandled from the start. Their attorney, Joseph Podraza, claims police failed to properly secure the crime scene and that crucial evidence was compromised. “This was no suicide. The injuries alone raise enough questions to warrant a jury trial,” he told the judge during the hearing.

Wounds that raise questions
Experts have pointed out glaring inconsistencies in the suicide theory. How could Ellen have inflicted stab wounds to the back of her head and neck? Why were there no defensive wounds, suggesting she didn’t try to fight off an attacker? And why was the crime scene left unguarded, potentially allowing evidence to be tampered with?

Podraza went further, alleging a cover-up by both the police department and the medical examiner’s office to hide their mistakes. “We can’t rule out the presence of a third party when Ellen was killed,” he said, citing an Independent report.

Decade of heartbreak
For over 13 years, the Greenbergs have fought to have Ellen’s death certificate amended from suicide to homicide or at least “undetermined.” Their lawsuit, which accuses five Philadelphia officials of negligence and emotional distress, is their latest attempt to seek justice.

But the city argues that the medical examiner’s decision cannot be legally compelled to change. On Wednesday, attorneys for the defense sought to have the case dismissed, citing lack of evidence and immunity for the officials involved.

What lies ahead
A decision on whether the case can proceed to trial is expected by January. In the meantime, the Greenbergs are not giving up. “This isn’t just about Ellen. It’s about exposing the truth and holding people accountable,” said Sandra Greenberg, who described her disbelief at the lies and mishandling of her daughter’s case.

While criminal charges remain inactive for now, Pennsylvania law places no statute of limitations on homicide, leaving a glimmer of hope for the family. For Joshua and Sandra, the fight for their daughter’s justice is far from over.