The Mysterious Death of Ellen Rae Greenberg

Ellen Rae Greenberg was born in June 1983 in New York City. She lost her life in January 2011, but the cause of her death is yet to be determined.

Inside the Story

Ellen Rae Greenberg was a 27-year-old first grade teacher at Juniata Park Academy in Philadelphia. She was living in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia in an apartment she shared with her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg.

On January 26, 2011, a blizzard hit the city, prompting Greenberg to leave work early and return to her apartment. Tragically, that evening she was found dead, having sustained 20 stab wounds. Her body was discovered by Goldberg who then called for help. She was pronounced dead at approximately 6:40 p.m.

The initial investigation by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death a homicide.

However, just a few months later, the medical examiner inexplicably reversed the ruling, declaring Greenberg's death a suicide. This sudden change sparked outrage from Greenberg's devastated parents, Sandra and Joshua, who were convinced their daughter had been murdered.

A Flawed Investigation

The Greenbergs' suspicions were fueled by numerous questionable actions taken by the authorities during the investigation. Most notably, the crime scene was not properly secured, with Greenberg's apartment being cleaned and sanitized before police could fully examine it.

Additionally, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, Dr. Marlon Osbourne, initially ruled the death a homicide, only to change it to suicide later on. When questioned, Osbourne claimed he had been pressured by the police to alter his findings.

Renowned forensic experts who reviewed the case, including Dr. Cyril Wecht and Dr. Henry Lee, concluded that the number and nature of Greenberg's stab wounds were highly inconsistent with suicide. They argued that the injuries, including wounds to her brain and spinal cord, would have caused excruciating pain and incapacitation, making it virtually impossible for her to have inflicted them on herself.

Pursuit of Justice

The Greenberg filed a civil suit against the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office and Dr. Osbourne, seeking to have the manner of death changed from suicide to homicide or undetermined.

In 2019, a groundbreaking investigation by The Philadelphia Inquirer brought widespread attention to the case, highlighting the suspicious circumstances and the experts' findings that contradicted the suicide ruling. This renewed public interest and scrutiny put immense pressure on the authorities to reexamine the case.

In August 2022, the Chester County District Attorney's office announced that it would reopen the investigation into Greenberg's death, shortly after the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office relinquished the case due to a conflict of interest. This development offered a glimmer of hope for the Greenbergs, who remained steadfast in their belief that their daughter's killer had not been brought to justice.

"We are convinced our daughter did not take her own life," Joshua Greenberg has stated.

"I try not to dwell on that even though there is a void in my heart," Sandra Greenberg has said, reflecting the family's determination to find closure and justice for Ellen.

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The mysterious death of Ellen Rae Greenberg was extensively covered by various media outlets, including The Dr. Oz Show, People Magazine, 48 Hours, Inside Edition, The Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS Philadelphia, Good Day Philadelphia (FOX29 Philly), ABC Harrisburg, CBS Harrisburg, Penn Live, NBC's Oxygen network. The suspicious circumstances surrounding Greenberg's death were also the focus of an episode in the second season of the true crime television show, Accident, Suicide or Murder.

Sources Used:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Rae_Greenberg

[2] https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/ellen-rae-greenberg-death-court-ruling/

[3] https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-ellen-greenberg/

[4] https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2023/05/ellen-greenberg-died-by-suicide-with-20-stab-wounds-her-parents-are-out-to-prove-thats-impossible.html

[5] https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/cold-case-spotlight/parents-ellen-greenberg-believe-new-evidence-submitted-philadelphia-attorney-general-n1286606