A new report from Philadelphia’s chief pathologist has reignited the controversy surrounding the mysterious 2011 death of Ellen Greenberg. The 27-year-old schoolteacher was discovered with more than 20 stab wounds in her apartment. After years of conflicting findings, the city’s top medical examiner now says she died by suicide.
Medical Examiner Concludes Ellen Greenberg Inflicted the Wounds
Chief Medical Examiner Lindsay Simon released a 32-page report last week stating that Greenberg’s injuries, while “admittedly unusual,” were self-inflicted. Simon wrote, “Ellen would be capable of inflicting these injuries herself,” noting that many of the cuts appear to be hesitation wounds — shallow injuries often seen in suicide cases.
Simon documented 23 wounds, three more than the 20 recorded by Dr. Marlon Osbourne, who conducted the 2011 autopsy.
No Evidence of Forced Entry or Struggle
Investigators found no sign that anyone else entered Greenberg’s locked apartment before her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, forced the door open and found her body. Police detected no defensive wounds, no struggle, and no indication that another person handled the kitchen knife in her chest.
Goldberg told police he had gone to the gym that afternoon. When he returned, he discovered the door locked from the inside. After several unanswered calls to Greenberg, he sought help from building staff and eventually broke the door open. Goldberg said he called 911 immediately and prepared to perform CPR but stopped when he noticed the knife lodged in her chest.
Greenberg’s Mental Health and Family’s Reaction
Simon’s report described Greenberg as struggling with work-related anxiety, though she told her psychiatrist she did not feel suicidal. Her family has rejected the suicide ruling, insisting that she was murdered.
Their attorney, Joseph Podraza, condemned the new report as “a deeply flawed attempt to justify a predetermined conclusion.” He accused the medical examiner’s office of twisting Greenberg’s medical history to fit a narrative.
“This report builds a flimsy case on distorted portrayals of Ellen’s managed anxiety — a condition experienced by over 40 million Americans,” Podraza said. “Ellen’s family only wants the truth. Unfortunately, Philadelphia’s law enforcement has failed to provide it.”
Podraza argued that the examiner ignored crucial evidence, including unexplained bruises and a 3D forensic model suggesting Greenberg could not have caused all her own wounds.
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Years of Reversals and Legal Battles
The October 10 report adds another twist to a case already filled with reversals. In 2011, pathologist Dr. Marlon Osbourne initially ruled Greenberg’s death a homicide. He later changed his finding to suicide, sparking years of public criticism and legal action.
Greenberg’s family sued the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, urging officials to change the ruling to “undetermined” or reopen the homicide investigation.
Earlier this year, Osbourne appeared to reverse his stance again, writing that Greenberg’s death “should be designated as something other than suicide.” According to NBC Philadelphia, his reconsideration came after consulting a pediatric neuropathologist and reviewing new information from the police file.
A Family’s Fight for Justice Continues
Fourteen years after Ellen Greenberg’s death, her family continues to fight for answers. Although the medical examiner’s office considers the case closed, her parents and supporters refuse to accept the ruling.
“Though Ellen’s city turned its back on her,” Podraza said, “we will continue through every possible channel to get justice for her murder.”
How to Get Help
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call 1-800-273-8255
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