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  • Writer's pictureSarah Turney

Ellen Greenberg



On January 26, 2011, 27-year-old Ellen Greenberg left her job early due to a snowstorm that blanketed the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area. Just after 6:30 pm, Ellen’s fiancé Sam Goldberg called 911 and reported that he had to break down the door to his and Ellen’s apartment because it had been locked from the inside. When he entered the apartment, he found Ellen in the kitchen with a knife sticking out of her chest.

When officers arrived, they found multiple stab wounds on Ellen’s chest. Deciding these wounds were “superficial,” police quickly determined that Ellen’s death was a suicide, not a homicide.


The next day, an autopsy uncovered 20 stab wounds to Ellen’s chest, stomach, back of her neck, and back of her head. The medical examiner ruled Ellen’s death a murder.

Despite these findings, the police declared Ellen’s death a suicide and closed her case. Since then, for over a decade, Ellen’s parents and a large group of experts have worked to uncover a lot of evidence that suggests Ellen was murdered.


You can support Ellen’s family by signing their change.org petition at:





Sources:


  1. Farr, Stephanie. “The death of Ellen Greenberg confounds forensic experts and anguishes her parents as they try to find out how their only child died.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 Mar. 2019, https://www.inquirer.com/crime/a/ellen-greenberg-death-suicide-homicide-philadelphia-mystery-20190316.html

  2. Marroni, Steve. “Suicide or homicide?” Penn Live, 13 May 2019, https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/05/suicide-or-homicide-parents-anguished-search-for-answers-lasts-years-after-daughter-dies-of-20-stab-wounds.html

  3. “Police investigate suspicious death in Manayunk.” CBS News Philadelphia, 28 Jan. 2011, https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/police-investigate-manayunk-murder-mystery/

  4. https://www.apartmentsearch.com/apartments/pennsylvania/philadelphia/venice-lofts

  5. Infield, Tom and Steele, Allison. “From 2011: Police leaning toward suicide in teacher death.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 29 Jan. 2011, https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/breaking/20110129_Police_leaning_toward_suicide_in_teacher_death.html-2

  6. Hill, Honorable Glynnis D. “Marlon Osbourne, MD vs. Joshua M. Greenberg, DMD.”, The Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, 8 June 2022, https://media.nbcphiladelphia.com/2022/06/Philadelphia-Court-of-Common-Pleas-Ellen-Greenberg-Case.pdf

  7. Sierra, Det. “Report of Death Investigation.” City of Philadelphia, Office of the Medical Examiner, retrieved 24 June 2023, https://jumpshare.com/v/lNuUeZbosMACMI0xsABX

  8. “Ellen Greenberg Case File”, https://www.scribd.com/document/493099059/Ellen-Greenberg-Case-File

  9. Eelman, Det. Scott. “Attorney work product.” Detective Scott Eelman, 14 Apr. 2017, https://jumpshare.com/v/qzdpaV3z3NyISR7pr7NZ

  10. Lazarus, Dr. Lewis. “Psychological Opinion.” Lewis A. Lazarus, Ph.D., 20 Sept. 2019, https://jumpshare.com/v/7g1xaYCrhSujH11fRp8N

  11. Ross, Dr. Wayne. “Greenberg, Ellen (C16-119).” Wayne K. Ross, M.D., P.C., 1 June 2021, https://jumpshare.com/v/mK7RMpe3SVLaXWNP0mgR

  12. Podraza Jr., Joseph. “Death Investigation of Ellen Greenberg.” Law Officers Sprague & Sprague, 19 June 2019, https://jumpshare.com/v/f0pxNWn4lpsnmA2Zo1Tj

  13. Hanton, Philip. “Declaration of Philip Hanton.” Unknown, 28 June 2021, https://jumpshare.com/v/tiYdSYK9TvmTP9XwADsl

  14. Sheehan, Brian. “Family hopes new lawsuit ends search for answers in daughter’s mysterious death.” Local 21 News, 18 October 2019, https://local21news.com/news/local/family-hopes-new-lawsuit-ends-search-for-answers-in-daughters-mysterious-death

  15. Cesaric, Corin. “Teacher had 20 stab wounds, yet 2011 death was ruled suicide - now DA is reopening investigation.” People, 2 Sept. 2022, https://people.com/crime/teacher-stabbed-20-times-2011-death-ruled-suicide-da-reopening-investigation/

  16. Peyser, Marc. “Pa. teacher was stabbed 20 times, but death was ruled suicide - now authorities are reviewing case.” People, 17 Dec. 2021, https://people.com/crime/ellen-greenberg-pennsylvania-teacher-death-ruled-suicide-family-suspects-murder/

  17. “Pennsylvania AG’s office receives potential new evidence in mysterious death of Ellen Greenberg.” CBS Philadelphia, 15 Dec. 2021, https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/pennsylvania-attorney-general-office-receives-new-evidence-in-mysterious-death-of-ellen-greenberg/

  18. “‘This was not a suicide’: new evidence in death of Ellen Greenberg, Philadelphia teacher found stabbed 20 times.” CBS Philadelphia, 16 Oct. 2021, https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/ellen-greenberg-philadelphia-death-new-evidence/

  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20200527033206/http://www.vidocq.org/#what-is

  20. Farr, Stephanie. “Case of Philly teacher Ellen Greenberg, whose 2011 death by 20 stab wounds was ruled suicide, heard by court.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 Nov. 2022, https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/ellen-greenberg-suicide-homicide-civil-trial-appeal-20221115.html

  21. Farr, Stephanie. “Ellen Greenberg case referred to Chester County DA” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10 Aug. 2022, https://web.archive.org/web/20220815034511mp_/https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/ellen-greenberg-philadelphia-referral-chester-county-20220810.html

  22. “Defendants’ Exhibits in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion to Compel – Disciplinary Records.” GavinFish.com, 21 June 2021, https://gavinfish.com/case-files-ellen-greenberg-court-docs/defendants-exhibits-in-opposition-to-plaintiffs-motion-to-compel-disciplinary-records/

  23. Luciew, John. “Parents’ $500K investigation of Pa. woman’s ‘suicide’ uncovers clues they say point to murder.” Penn Live, 16 May 2023, https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2023/05/parents-500k-investigation-of-ellen-greenbergs-2011-death-uncovers-clues-they-say-point-to-murder.html

  24. Luciew, John. “​​Modern analysis of 2011 death finds Pa. teacher’s 20 stab wounds were likely from ‘assailant’.” Penn Live, 17 May 2023, https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2023/05/modern-analysis-of-2011-death-finds-ellen-greenbergs-20-stab-wounds-were-likely-from-assailant.html

  25. “Motion to Compel Ware Video, Defendants’ Exhibits.” GavinFish.com, 21 June 2021, https://gavinfish.com/case-files-ellen-greenberg-court-docs/motion-to-compel-ware-video-defendants-exhibits/

  26. “Greenberg v. Gulino, et al.” GavinFish.com, 26 Oct. 2022, https://gavinfish.com/greenberg-v-gulino-et-al/complaint-5/

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