Ellen Greenberg’s Mom Responds to Police Reexamining Suicide Ruling

After 14 years of fighting for a reexamination of her daughter’s supposed suicide, Ellen Greenberg’s mother has responded to Philadelphia police’s decision to reopen her case.

Speaking with NewsNation, Sandee Greenberg said: “I wanna see justice served. Our major goal was to remove the suicide label from Ellen’s name.” Sandee Greenberg added that she is doing this because everyone in the country knows someone who needs justice.

The Governor’s office and the Mayor of Philadelphia have been contacted via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Schoolteacher Ellen Greenberg was found dead in her Philadelphia home aged 27 with 20 knife wounds and at least 11 bruises over her body. Although the medical examiner initially deemed her death to be a homicide, the police concluded that it was a suicide. They were so convinced of this, they did not even call in the Crime Scene Unit.

Her parents have been fighting the City of Philadelphia ever since to overrule this report, and to find justice for their daughter who they believe was murdered. If the case is deemed a homicide, there is a chance that the Greenberg family will see justice served.

There is also pressure on Governor Josh Shapiro, who was the Attorney General at the time, to explain why this death was determined to be suicide without a further investigation.

What To Know

In January 2011, Ellen Greenberg was living in a sixth floor apartment in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Toward the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011, her family recall her acting more withdrawn and anxious. She saw a psychologist and was diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder. Her cousin recalls Ellen asking about makeup to cover up blemishes, as she wanted to wear a dress to a party but had a mark on her back.

On January 27, Ellen Greenberg was found in her apartment, which was locked from the inside with a latch, covered in bruises which were at various stages of healing, and stab wounds to the chest, liver, skull, and spine, as well as other places.

Medical examiner, Marlon Osbourne, explained under oath this week why he changed his ruling from homicide to suicide in 2011. He said that no footsteps were found in the snow outside of her apartment, indicating that either her killer left through the front door and was able to then lock it again, or Ellen took her own life.

Reports at the time stated that Ellen’s fiance, Sam Goldberg, had been with the medical examiners who had to force their entry into the apartment because of it being latched closed, so Osbourne determined that she must have been alone when she died.

However, an investigation from CNN found that there is no evidence of Goldberg being with the examiners when they arrived, and that CCTV footage shows him in the elevator before the 911 call was placed. One person who lived in that complex told CNN that the latch sometimes falls and locks by accident if the door is slammed hard enough.

If this is true, then it appears as if somebody from the police department gave Osbourne a false statement to get him to change his ruling to a suicide.

In a statement to CNN, Goldberg said that in the past 14 years, he has “had to endure the unimaginable passing of my future wife and the pathetic and despicable attempts to desecrate my reputation and her privacy by creating a narrative that embraces lies, distortions and falsehoods in order to avoid the truth.”

The City of Philadelphia has now settled with the family after 14 years, and will reopen the case with the medical examiner’s office.

Ellen’s mother said she cannot discuss the settlement which was reached, adding that there are “other things in the works that hopefully will continue to prevail and more justice will be served.” She added: “The city has agreed to do their own investigation and we have to hope with all the eyes on them that they will do the right thing and they will change the death certificate.”

What People Are Saying

Sandee Greenberg to NewsNation: “The City didn’t expect to be dealing with Ellen’s parents. They didn’t expect us to persevere and not give up, and we didn’t put up with their stalling tactics, their withholding information, and their untruths … The truth will prevail, the truth will set you free. And, we will be watching. I wanna see this city make good on their promises, because they haven’t in the past.”

Sam Goldberg in an email to CNN: “I hope and pray that you never lose someone you love like I did to a terrible disease and then be accused by ignorant and misinformed people of causing her death.”

Dr. Osbourne’s sworn statement: “Since issuing the amended death certificate, I have become aware of additional information … it is my professional opinion Ellen’s manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide.”

What Happens Next

Sandee Greenberg told NewsNation that while she wants the death certificate to read ‘homicide,’ as long as the city changes it to remove ‘suicide’ from the certificate she and her husband, Josh, will be satisfied.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “988” to the Crisis Text Line at 741 741 or go to 988lifeline.org.