Ellen Greenberg was a 27-year-old teacher from Philadelphia whose tragic death in 2011 has remained a painful mystery. Found in her apartment with 20 stab wounds, bruises on her body, and a knife in her chest, her death was ruled a suicide. But her parents, Josh and Sandee Greenberg, have never believed it. Over the years, they’ve fought tirelessly to have the case reopened and reexamined, convinced their daughter was murdered.
This week, the Greenbergs faced a major moment in their journey for justice. They sat in a Philadelphia courtroom for the first time as lawyers debated their lawsuit to change Ellen’s death certificate from “suicide” to “homicide” or “undetermined.” Her mother, Sandee, described it as another step closer to the truth, saying, “We are very determined and not giving up.”
Ellen’s parents have filed two lawsuits: one accusing officials of a cover-up and another pushing to change the cause of death on her death certificate. Over the years, several forensic experts, law enforcement professionals, and legal analysts have echoed their belief that Ellen’s death wasn’t a suicide.
But Ellen’s fiancé, Sam Goldberg, publicly spoke about her death for the first time this week—and he has a very different view. Goldberg, who was with Ellen the day she died, said he was devastated by her passing and believes she died by suicide due to mental health struggles.
“When Ellen took her own life, it left me bewildered,” Goldberg told the media. “She was a wonderful, kind person who had everything to live for. When she died, a part of me died with her.”
Goldberg also pushed back on those questioning his role in her death, calling the accusations “pathetic and despicable attempts to desecrate my reputation and her privacy.” He said, “Mental illness is very real and has many victims. I hope and pray that you never lose someone you love like I did and then be accused by ignorant and misinformed people of causing their death.”
Ellen’s death unfolded on a snowy day in January 2011 in Manayunk, a quiet neighborhood in Philadelphia. Goldberg said he returned home from the gym, broke down their apartment door, and found Ellen in the kitchen with a knife in her chest and a half-prepared fruit salad on the counter.
At first, the city’s medical examiner, Dr. Marlon Osbourne, ruled her death a homicide. But after meeting with police, he changed the ruling to suicide. This decision has been a source of pain and frustration for the Greenbergs, who say it defies logic. Court documents show Ellen’s wounds included 10 stab wounds to her back and at least one that experts believe happened after she was already dead.
The autopsy also revealed bruises in various stages of healing on Ellen’s body, raising further questions. Ellen’s father, Josh, said these injuries were consistent with abuse, adding that his daughter wanted to leave the apartment she shared with Goldberg and return to her parents’ home in Harrisburg before she died. A psychiatrist who treated Ellen had diagnosed her with anxiety but noted she did not have suicidal thoughts.
Dr. Cyril Wecht, a renowned forensic pathologist who reviewed the case, strongly supported the Greenbergs’ belief that Ellen’s death was not a suicide. He called the circumstances “highly, highly suspicious of homicide.” Other experts have questioned the police’s handling of the scene, saying it was released too quickly and that evidence was improperly removed.
One of the most contentious aspects of the case involves Goldberg’s uncle, James Schwartzman, a Pennsylvania judge, who took some of Ellen’s belongings from the apartment after her death. The Greenbergs claim this included computers, cellphones, and Ellen’s handbag, which they say disrupted the chain of evidence. Schwartzman, however, has denied taking the handbag and says police allowed him to remove the other items.
Neither Goldberg nor Schwartzman has faced any charges, and both deny wrongdoing. The Chester County District Attorney’s Office, which took over the investigation, recently announced it couldn’t move forward with criminal charges but would reopen the case if new evidence emerges.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has also agreed to hear arguments from the Greenbergs’ legal team, marking a significant step in their fight for justice. Ellen’s father described this as historic, saying, “No one has ever gotten this far. I know it’s taken almost 14 years, but it’s still a very important case.”
Ellen’s death remains shrouded in unanswered questions, and her parents are determined to uncover the truth. “We’re not giving up,” Sandee said. “We owe it to Ellen.”
