Investigation into Ellen Greenberg’s Death Reopened
Recent sightings of Sam Goldberg, the ex-fiancé of Ellen Greenberg, have surfaced just days after the federal government announced a renewed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Philadelphia teacher’s death. Goldberg, 43, was seen in New York City, stepping out of his Manhattan apartment where he lives with his wife and two kids, dressed in a black jacket, gray sweatpants, and a beanie.
When approached, Goldberg apparently declined to comment on the recent developments regarding the reopening of the case related to Greenberg’s death in 2011, which was deemed suspicious as she had been found with 23 stab wounds.
Debate Surrounding Greenberg’s Death
Greenberg’s mother, Sandy, expressed cautious optimism about the investigation being handed over to federal authorities, stating, “It’s very good news in that we’re taking things away from the state of Philadelphia, which we don’t trust.” She emphasized the need for transparency, especially since January 26 will mark 15 years since her daughter’s tragic death.
The case drew particular attention when Ellen, just 27 at the time, was found with fatal wounds to her back and heart. Initially ruled a homicide, the determination was controversially changed to suicide in 2011 by a medical examiner after discussions with police.
Goldberg has consistently maintained that he is not a suspect in this case. Notably, after a Hulu documentary aired in October 2025, which revisited the situation, Goldberg expressed that the content affected him deeply, recounting how he’d called 911 upon discovering Greenberg’s body and claimed she had “fallen under a knife.”
Federal Focus on Corruption
The recent request by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for documents from the Philadelphia Police and other agencies indicates a shift towards exploring possible corruption rather than directly challenging the suicide ruling. Reports have confirmed that authorities do not aim to investigate the cause of death but rather the integrity of local officials involved in the original inquiry.
In 2022, Greenberg’s family had filed a lawsuit against the city due to the way the case was handled. While a Pennsylvania court acknowledged issues in the investigation last year, it ultimately dismissed their efforts to change the official ruling of death.
In its ruling, the court conveyed awareness of significant flaws in how the case was examined by local law enforcement, yet noted that legally altering the cause of death was unfeasible.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not yet provided comments regarding the latest developments in this ongoing case, which continues to draw public interest.
