The 2011 death of Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher, was ruled a suicide after she was found with nearly 20 stab wounds and bruises all over her body. Last week, the parents appeared in court and a judge ruled that the city had committed suicide. The declaration was “incomprehensible”.
On January 6, 2011, during a snowstorm, Greenberg was found in his kitchen with 20 stab wounds and a knife in his chest, a half-finished fruit salad on the countertop. discovered.
Her parents, Dr. Josh and Sandy Greenberg, have been embroiled in a legal battle with the government since their daughter's death, contesting the verdict of suicide.
Oral arguments were heard in a Philadelphia courtroom on Dec. 11 as part of a lawsuit filed by the Greenbergs in 2022, alleging that local authorities and the coroner's office covered up their daughter's death and “faked Ellen's murder.” He was accused of participating in a conspiracy to conceal his intentions. It was suicide,” the legal document states.
It was the first time the Greenbergs sat in court and heard arguments in their daughter's case.
“We feel like we are defending her,” Sandy said in a statement to FOX News Digital after the hearing. “We are getting closer to justice for Ellen. We are determined and will never give up.”
At the time of her death, Ms. Greenberg had put out a save-the-date notice for her wedding to Sam Goldberg, but Goldberg came home from the gym, broke down the door, and found her fiance's body in their Manayunk apartment. He said he discovered. A quiet neighborhood in Philadelphia.
An hour before Goldberg called 911, he sent Greenberg a series of phone calls, emails and ominous text messages, according to court records.
The last nine texts Mr. Goldberg sent to Mr. Greenberg between 5:32 p.m. and 5:54 p.m. included “Hello,” “Open the door,” and “What are you doing?” They included phrases such as “I'm pissed off,” “Hello,” and “Better.” “I have an excuse,” “Oh my god,” “Oh,” and “I have no idea.”
Goldberg called 911 at 6:33 p.m., and Greenberg was pronounced dead by doctors shortly afterward.
Dr. Marlon Osborne, a forensic pathologist with the city medical examiner's office at the time, initially ruled Greenberg's death a homicide, according to court documents. Later, after meeting with police behind closed doors, they changed direction and officially ruled it a suicide.
The Greenbergs allege that officials involved in their daughter's case “disastrously botched” the investigation and conspired to cover it up. The Greenbergs also accused the couple of intentionally causing emotional distress.
Joe Podraza, the Greenberg family's attorney, confirmed to FOX News Digital that during a Dec. 11 hearing, Common Pleas Judge Michael Erdos said, “The crime scene should have been handled differently.'' I don't think anyone would object to that.” “The fact that the death certificate still lists the cause of death as suicide is puzzling.”
The Greenbergs and outside investigators have questioned why authorities allowed the crime scene to be professionally cleaned and disinfected before detectives arrived with a search warrant, according to court records.
“While Dr. Osborn was performing the autopsy, Ellen's death was ultimately determined to be a homicide, and the premises where Ellen was murdered was thoroughly cleaned,” the document states.
The Greenbergs also asked why Goldberg's uncle, James Schwartzman, a prominent Pennsylvania judge, broke into their apartment and took many of Ellen's belongings, including her computer and cell phone. There are also questions about whether permission was granted.
At a hearing last week, Erdos dismissed one defendant in the case against the city officials involved, but withheld judgment on the other four defendants. Mr. Erdos provided Mr. Podlaza with a brief outlining how he intends to show the jury that the remaining defendants were not merely reckless, but directly and intentionally caused emotional distress to the Greenbergs. requested to submit.
“It's a steep climb, but it's not an impossible climb. … You have a fighting chance,” Erdos said at the hearing, referring to the Greenberg family's lawsuit.
The fired defendant was Lindsay Emery, a former pathologist with the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office who was asked to examine part of Greenberg's preserved spinal column in 2019. The other four defendants named in the lawsuit include Osborne, the former city pathologist who performed Greenberg's autopsy; former Chief Medical Examiner Sam Gulino; retired homicide sergeant Tim Cooney; and murder investigation. John McNamee.
For years, forensic pathologists, crime scene experts, former law enforcement officers and lawyers have expressed doubts about Greenberg's suicide verdict. And Mr. Goldberg recently broke his silence about his bride's death, apparently believing otherwise.
“When Ellen took her own life, I was confused. She was a wonderful, kind person and had everything to live for. When she died, a part of me died with her.” Goldberg told CNN in his first public statement about Greenberg's death.
“Inconceivably, over the years, I have created a story about my future wife's unimaginable passing, and a story filled with lies, distortions, and falsehoods, attempting to desecrate my reputation and privacy.'' I had to endure a pathetic and despicable attempt to avoid the truth. Mental illness is very real and takes its toll.”
Ten of Greenberg's 20 stab wounds were from behind, and at least one of them may have been inflicted after she was already dead, court documents said. She was found covered in bruises in various stages of healing, suggesting she had been bruised for some time, according to the autopsy report.
“My daughter was abused,” the father previously told FOX News Digital. “Her body had injuries consistent with abuse.”
Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht, who conducted an independent review of the autopsy, found the evidence was “very highly suspicious of murder.”
Vecht, who died in maypreviously told FOX News Digital that after examining the forensic evidence, he believes the idea that Greenberg died by suicide is “very, very unlikely.”
Greenberg's parents previously said that psychiatrist Dr. Ellen Berman diagnosed the 27-year-old with anxiety disorder before her death, but the psychiatrist said Greenberg had no signs of suicidal thoughts or suicidal thoughts. He also pointed out that he had no desire.
In addition to this lawsuit, the Greenbergs filed another active lawsuit in 2019 to change the word “suicide” on her death certificate to either “homicide” or “undetermined.” I was aiming to replace it. The case is pending in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Philadelphia Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. They had previously declined to discuss the matter. Goldberg did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Schwartzman's representatives had previously responded to claims that Mr. Schwarzman removed items from the scene on his behalf by giving Mr. Schwartzman permission for police to enter and remove Mr. Greenberg's belongings. confirmed to Fox News Digital that her computer and cell phone were taken.
