When 27-year-old teacher Ellen Greenberg was found dead in her Philadelphia apartment during a snowstorm in 2011, the discovery shocked the community. She had been stabbed 20 times — in the neck, head, and chest — with a knife still lodged in her body. At first, investigators ruled her death a homicide, but within weeks, that ruling was mysteriously changed to suicide. Now, over a decade later, officials have reaffirmed that same conclusion — a decision that has reignited anger and heartbreak for Ellen’s family, who remain convinced she was murdered.
The night she died, Ellen’s fiancé, Sam Goldberg, told police he had returned from the gym to find their apartment door locked from the inside. When no one answered his calls or texts, he forced the door open and found Ellen on the kitchen floor. Police noted there were no signs of forced entry or struggle, and the building staff confirmed no one else had entered the apartment. While the assistant medical examiner initially classified Ellen’s death as a homicide, the cause was changed to suicide after a private meeting with police — abruptly ending the investigation.
Ellen’s parents, Joshua and Sandee Greenberg, have never accepted that conclusion. They argue that no one could stab themselves 20 times and that Ellen’s bruises and injuries tell a different story. Determined to uncover the truth, they’ve spent years and their own savings hiring independent experts. Forensic pathologists Dr. Cyril Wecht and Dr. Wayne Ross both concluded that Ellen’s wounds were not self-inflicted and even pointed to possible signs of strangulation — evidence suggesting the scene may have been staged. Despite this, officials recently reaffirmed the original suicide ruling, leaving the Greenbergs devastated.
The family’s attorney called the city’s decision “an embarrassment” and vowed to continue fighting through other legal avenues. Ellen’s parents believe their daughter had been planning to leave her fiancé that day, pointing to personal items she had already packed. As they continue their campaign for justice, their determination has turned Ellen’s case into a symbol of a larger fight — one about truth, accountability, and a family’s refusal to let their daughter’s story be forgotten.