The parents of Ellen Greenberg, a Philadelphia teacher found dead in 2011 with 20 stab wounds and bruises in various stages of healing, appeared in court last week to challenge the city’s determination that her death was a suicide.
Despite initial findings by the medical examiner that Greenberg’s death was a homicide, the ruling was later changed to suicide after police discussions. During the hearing, Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Erdos described the suicide ruling as “puzzling” and acknowledged the investigation’s shortcomings, including the premature professional cleaning of the crime scene before detectives arrived.
The Greenbergs have accused city officials and the medical examiner’s office of covering up their daughter’s death and disguising a homicide as a suicide, as part of an ongoing legal battle.
The case has raised numerous questions, including why Sam Goldberg, Greenberg’s fiancé, who found her body, sent a series of angry and demanding text messages before calling 911, and why his uncle, a prominent Pennsylvania judge, was allowed to remove Greenberg’s belongings, including her computer and cellphone, from the apartment.
Independent forensic experts, including Dr. Cyril Wecht, have expressed skepticism about the suicide ruling, pointing to the suspicious nature of Greenberg’s injuries.
The Greenbergs continue to push for her death certificate to be changed to “homicide” or “undetermined,” while pursuing legal action to hold city officials accountable. Despite the uphill battle, the family told Fox News they remain resolute in seeking justice for Ellen, believing her injuries were consistent with abuse and that the investigation was “grossly botched.”
