A Pennsylvania district attorney announced that they are unable to move forward with criminal charges in the case of 27-year-old Ellen Greenberg, a Philadelphia teacher whose 2011 death was ruled a suicide despite having been found with 20 stab wounds, half of them from behind. Her parents, Dr. Josh and Sandee Greenberg, have accused the medical examiner’s office of covering up their daughter’s homicide and have been entangled in court battles with the government since her death. They have tried to have the designation of “suicide” on her death certificate replaced with “homicide” or “undetermined.”
The Chester County District Attorney’s Office conducted an independent investigation into Greenberg’s case, re-interviewing key individuals from the original Philadelphia investigation, consulting an independent forensic expert, and taking other investigatory steps. However, they concluded that based on the current state of the evidence, they cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed. The case is being moved to an “inactive” status in Chester County but will remain open for re-examination if new information comes to light. The DA’s office emphasized that there is no statute of limitations for criminal homicide, and therefore, the case will remain open.
Despite the DA’s findings, the Greenberg family remains convinced that Ellen was murdered. Their attorney criticized the limited nature of the investigation conducted by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, stating that the evidence remains unchallenged. He also called into question the qualifications of the independent forensic expert consulted during the investigation. The Greenbergs have been involved in ongoing legal battles to have the designation of “suicide” on Ellen’s death certificate changed.
An independent investigation was initiated by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office two years ago after both Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and former Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro recused themselves from the case. Despite these efforts, the Greenberg family remains unsatisfied with the outcome of the investigation and continues to believe that Ellen was murdered. The Greenbergs and their attorney are eagerly awaiting the upcoming trial where they hope a full examination of the case can be conducted before an independent judge and jury.
Ellen Greenberg was found in 2011 with 20 stab wounds, including 10 from behind, and bruises in different stages of healing, which her parents assert are consistent with abuse. At the time of her death, she had recently sent out “save-the-dates” for her upcoming wedding with her fiancé, Sam Goldberg. Her death was initially ruled a homicide by a forensic pathologist but was later changed to suicide after a meeting with police. The Greenbergs have raised concerns about the police’s response to her death, the premature release of the crime scene, and the removal of items by Goldberg’s uncle.
Despite the family’s efforts, neither Sam Goldberg nor his uncle have been charged with any wrongdoing in relation to Ellen Greenberg’s death. Questions remain about how the case was initially handled by the authorities and why items were removed from the scene without the Greenbergs’ permission. The family continues to seek justice for Ellen and hopes that their ongoing legal battles will set a precedent for other victims of heinous crimes. The case remains open for re-examination if new information comes to light.
