Study Guide: The Ellen Greenberg Case

This study guide is designed to help you review and deepen your understanding of the provided source material concerning the death of Ellen Greenberg.

I. Overview of the Case

Ellen Greenberg was a 27-year-old teacher found dead in her Philadelphia apartment with 20 stab wounds on January 26, 2011. Her death has been the subject of significant controversy and conflicting rulings regarding its manner: initially homicide, then suicide, with the original pathologist later changing his opinion back to "other than suicide." The case involves questions of police investigation integrity, forensic findings, and the credibility of witnesses, particularly her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg.

II. Key Events and Timelines

• January 26, 2011: Ellen Greenberg is found dead in her Manayunk apartment with 20 stab wounds. Samuel Goldberg, her fiancé, calls 911, reporting she "stabbed herself" and "fell on a knife."

• January 27, 2011: The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office initially rules the death a homicide after the autopsy. The apartment is cleaned and sanitized with police permission. James Schwartzman, Goldberg's uncle, retrieves laptops, phones, and credit cards from the apartment.

• January 28, 2011: Philadelphia Police Department publicly states the death is "suspicious" but not yet ruled a homicide, differing from the Medical Examiner's initial finding. Police return to the scene with a search warrant and retrieve items taken by Schwartzman.

• February 2011: The Medical Examiner's Office changes its ruling to suicide.

• 2018: The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office (under Josh Shapiro) takes over the case due to a conflict referral.

• 2019: The Attorney General's Office concludes its investigation, stating "Suicide" as the manner of death based on new evidence (web searches for suicide methods, distressed text messages) and closes the case.

• October 15, 2019: Ellen Greenberg's parents file a lawsuit against Marlon Osbourne, MD, and the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office to compel a revision of the death certificate.

• January 10, 2017 (Wayne K. Ross, MD PC Report): Forensic neuropathologist Wayne K. Ross reviews materials and offers opinions indicating evidence of strangulation, consistent with a repeated beating, and scene findings indicative of homicide.

• January 29, 2018 (Henry C. Lee Institute Report): Henry C. Lee and Elaine M. Pagliaro review case materials and conclude the number and type of wounds and bloodstain patterns are consistent with a homicide.

• February 2025 (Pathologist's Amendment): Marlon Osbourne, the pathologist who originally performed the autopsy and later changed the ruling to suicide, signs a document stating he no longer considers it a suicide, amending his position to "something other than suicide." This change has no legal impact as he is no longer employed by the Medical Examiner's Office.

• October 2, 2024 (EMT Testimony): New testimony emerges from an EMT first on the scene, revealing inconsistencies in the fiancé's account and unexplained details at the crime scene.

• Undated (Reddit discussions): Public and expert discussions highlight inconsistencies: 20 stab wounds (including to the back/neck) are highly unusual for suicide, healing bruises suggest prior domestic violence, Goldberg's 911 call demeanor is questioned, and the initial police investigation is criticized for mishandling evidence and potential influence from Goldberg's politically connected uncle.

III. Key Individuals and Roles

• Ellen Rae Greenberg: The deceased, a 27-year-old first-grade teacher.

• Samuel Goldberg: Ellen Greenberg's fiancé, who discovered her body and called 911.

• Marlon Osbourne, M.D.: Philadelphia City Assistant Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy. Initially ruled homicide, then changed to suicide, and later amended his position to "other than suicide."

• Joshua and Sandee Greenberg: Ellen's parents, who have relentlessly pursued a change in the manner of death ruling, believing their daughter was murdered.

• Dr. Ellen Berman: Ellen Greenberg's psychiatrist, who reported Ellen was suffering from anxiety and had been prescribed multiple psychotropic medications.

• Stephen Olszewski: Investigator for the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office.

• Joe Grace: Spokesperson for Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro in 2019, who stated the office concluded the death was a suicide.

• Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D.: Noted pathologist who reviewed the case and found it "strongly suspicious of homicide," citing the nature of the wounds.

• Wayne K. Ross, M.D.: Forensic and Neuropathology expert who provided an opinion suggesting strangulation and repeated beating, and that scene findings were indicative of homicide.

• Henry C. Lee, PhD: Forensic science expert who concluded the wounds and bloodstain patterns were consistent with homicide.

• Elaine M. Pagliaro, MS, JD: Co-author of the Henry C. Lee Institute report.

• James Schwartzman: Samuel Goldberg's uncle, a prominent lawyer (later judge), who retrieved items from the apartment early in the investigation. His influence and actions are points of controversy.

• Philip Hanton: Building security guard, whose affidavit contradicts Goldberg's claim that he accompanied Goldberg when forcing the door open.

• Lindsey Emery, M.D.: Neuropathologist for the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, who initially stated a neck wound might have occurred post-mortem, though she later walked back this conclusion.

IV. Contested Aspects and Evidence

• Manner of Death: The central dispute.

• Suicide Argument: Supported by the Attorney General's 2019 conclusion, citing web searches for suicide methods, and text messages indicating mental distress. Initial police belief at the scene.

• Homicide Argument: Supported by the initial medical examiner ruling, later amended pathologist's opinion, opinions of multiple outside experts (Wecht, Ross, Lee), the number and location of stab wounds (20, including to the back and neck, and a stab through the liver), the presence of multiple bruises in various stages of healing, and inconsistencies in Goldberg's account and the scene.

• Crime Scene Integrity:The apartment was cleaned and sanitized the day after the death, before a full forensic examination by police was conducted.

• Items (laptops, phones) were removed from the scene by Goldberg's uncle before police secured them.

• Samuel Goldberg's Actions and Statements:His 911 call is described as "fake," not genuinely frantic, and focusing on his innocence rather than seeking help.

• Claims of forcing the door open and being accompanied by a security guard are contradicted by the security guard and surveillance video.

• His apparent failure to immediately notice the knife in Ellen's chest, despite its visibility in photos, is questioned.

• His first call was to his uncle, a lawyer, before calling 911.

• Wearing boots to the gym for elliptical exercise is seen as unusual, potentially indicating a change of shoes to conceal blood evidence.

• Ellen's Mental State and Domestic Violence:Reports of anxiety, depression, and being on multiple psychotropic medications.

• Google searches for "methods of committing suicide," "quick death," and "depression" are cited by the AG's office, though a technology expert later attributed these to "phantom searches based on analytics" related to medication side effects.

• Friends noticed changes in her behavior, suggesting she might have been in a domestic violence situation, citing her new need to "ask Sam first" before making decisions and her breaking down weeping while wedding dress shopping.

• The presence of healing bruises on her body.

• Forensic Findings:20 stab wounds, including 10 to the back and neck.

• A stab wound to the back of the neck potentially severed the spinal cord, which would incapacitate her and make self-inflicted subsequent wounds impossible.

• Evidence of strangulation (hemorrhage in neck muscles).

• Knife embedded in her left chest.

• No suicide note.

• No signs of forced entry other than Goldberg's alleged breaking of the swing latch.

V. Legal and Media Impact

• The case has generated significant media attention and public debate, especially within the true crime community, due to the unusual nature of the wounds and the conflicting official rulings.

• The lawsuit filed by Ellen's parents against the Medical Examiner's Office is a key legal effort to compel a change in the official manner of death.

Quiz: Ellen Greenberg Case

Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. What was the initial ruling by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office regarding Ellen Greenberg's death, and how did it change shortly after?

2. Describe two specific pieces of evidence cited by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office in 2019 when concluding Ellen Greenberg's death was a suicide.

3. Why is the pathologist Marlon Osbourne's recent amendment to his opinion (in February 2025) regarding the manner of death significant, and what is its legal impact?

4. Name two external forensic experts or institutes that reviewed the case and concluded that Ellen Greenberg's death was consistent with homicide.

5. What key inconsistency was noted regarding Samuel Goldberg's account of forcing open the apartment door?

6. Explain why the number and location of Ellen Greenberg's stab wounds raise skepticism about the suicide ruling.

7. What evidence in the source material suggests Ellen Greenberg might have been a victim of domestic violence?

8. How did the Philadelphia Police Department's actions immediately following the discovery of Ellen Greenberg's body contribute to the controversy surrounding the investigation?

9. What was unusual about Samuel Goldberg's first phone call after discovering Ellen's body, and why is this considered suspicious by some?

10. Describe the nature of the conflicting information regarding Ellen Greenberg's internet search history and how it relates to the manner of death debate.

Quiz Answer Key

1. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office initially ruled Ellen Greenberg's death a homicide after the autopsy. However, shortly after, in February 2011, they changed their official ruling to suicide.

2. In 2019, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office cited web searches for "methods of committing suicide," "quick death," and "depression" found on Ms. Greenberg's computer. They also mentioned text messages between Ms. Greenberg and a family member on the day of her death showing she was in serious mental distress.

3. Marlon Osbourne, the pathologist, recently amended his opinion to "something other than suicide," which is significant as he was the original examiner. However, since he is no longer employed by the Medical Examiner's office, his statement does not have any influence on the official death certificate's suicide ruling.

4. Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D., a noted pathologist, and the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science (with Henry C. Lee and Elaine M. Pagliaro) both reviewed the case. They concluded that Ellen Greenberg's death was consistent with homicide.

5. Samuel Goldberg claimed he forced open the apartment door and was accompanied by the building's security guard, Philip Hanton. However, Hanton's affidavit states he did not accompany Goldberg, and surveillance video corroborates that Hanton did not leave his station.

6. Ellen Greenberg sustained 20 stab wounds, including 10 to her back and neck, and a stab through the liver, with the knife embedded in her chest. Such numerous and geographically varied wounds, especially to the back, are extremely rare and considered physically implausible for self-infliction in suicides by many experts.

7. Evidence suggesting domestic violence includes the presence of 11 bruises on her body in various stages of resolution, indicating previous injuries. Additionally, friends noted a change in her behavior, such as needing to "ask Sam first" before making decisions and breaking down while wedding dress shopping, leading some to suspect a controlling relationship.

8. The Philadelphia Police Department contributed to the controversy by allowing the apartment to be cleaned and sanitized the day after the death, before a thorough forensic examination. They also allowed Goldberg's uncle to remove potential evidence like laptops and phones from the scene prior to a search warrant being executed.

9. Samuel Goldberg's first call after discovering Ellen's body was to his uncle, James Schwartzman, a prominent lawyer, before he called 911. This is considered suspicious because an innocent person would typically prioritize calling emergency services to potentially save a life before contacting legal counsel.

10. The Attorney General's office cited Ellen's internet searches for suicide methods as evidence for suicide. However, a technology expert later countered this, stating these were "phantom searches based on analytics" related to her research into the side effects of her prescribed medications, rather than direct searches for suicide methods.

Essay Format Questions (No Answers Supplied)

1. Analyze the role of forensic evidence and expert testimony in the Ellen Greenberg case. Discuss how conflicting interpretations of the stab wounds, bruises, and crime scene integrity have fueled the debate over the manner of death.

2. Evaluate the credibility of Samuel Goldberg's account of finding Ellen Greenberg's body and calling 911. What specific details from the source material raise questions about his narrative and demeanor?

3. Discuss the impact of the Philadelphia Police Department's initial handling of the crime scene on the subsequent investigation and the ongoing controversy. Consider the implications of cleaning the apartment and allowing evidence to be removed.

4. Explore the various factors that contributed to the official ruling of Ellen Greenberg's death as a suicide, and contrast them with the arguments and evidence put forth by those who believe it was a homicide.

5. Examine the legal efforts undertaken by Ellen Greenberg's parents to challenge the official suicide ruling. How do these legal actions reflect their pursuit of justice and what obstacles have they faced?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Autopsy: A post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death or the character and extent of disease. In this case, performed by Dr. Marlon Osbourne.

• Case Number 11-00420: The official identifier for Ellen Greenberg's death investigation.

• Crime Scene Integrity: The preservation of evidence and conditions at a crime scene to prevent contamination or alteration, crucial for a thorough investigation. Criticized in this case due to cleaning and evidence removal.

• Death Certificate: A legal document issued by a medical examiner or coroner stating the cause and manner of death. Its revision is a central legal issue in this case.

• Domestic Violence (DV): A pattern of abusive behaviors by one partner against another in an intimate relationship. Suggested as a possibility in Ellen's case due to healing bruises and behavioral changes.

• ELISA - Enzyme Immunoassay: A laboratory test that uses antibodies and color change to detect the presence of drugs or other substances. Used in the toxicology report.

• Forensic Neuropathology: A subspecialty of pathology that focuses on the examination of brain, spinal cord, and nerve tissues to determine the cause of death or injury, especially in legal contexts. Dr. Wayne K. Ross is an expert in this field.

• Hemorrhage: The escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel. Noted in Ellen's neck muscles, indicating possible strangulation.

• Homicide: The killing of one person by another. Initial ruling of Ellen's death.

• Investigation Report: Official document detailing the findings and conclusions of an investigation.

• Mandamus: A judicial writ issued by a superior court to compel a lower court or a government officer to perform a specific duty. Sought by the Greenbergs to compel a change in the death certificate.

• Manner of Death: A classification of how a person died, typically categorized as natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, or undetermined. The core dispute in the Greenberg case.

• Medical Examiner's Office: A government agency responsible for investigating deaths, performing autopsies, and determining cause and manner of death.

• Multiple Stab Wounds: Numerous injuries caused by a sharp object. Ellen Greenberg sustained 20 such wounds.

• Pathologist: A medical doctor who specializes in examining tissues, organs, and bodily fluids to diagnose disease and determine the cause of death. Dr. Marlon Osbourne and Dr. Cyril Wecht are pathologists.

• Psychotropic Medications: Drugs that affect the mind, emotions, or behavior. Ellen Greenberg was prescribed several of these for anxiety and depression.

• Short-Answer Questions: Quiz questions requiring concise, factual responses.

• Spinal Cord Transection: A severe injury to the spinal cord that completely severs the nerves, resulting in total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury. A stab wound to Ellen's neck reportedly had the potential for this.

• Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Bleeding into the space between the brain and the tissues covering the brain. Noted in Ellen's case.

• Suicide: The act of intentionally causing one's own death. The revised official ruling in Ellen's case.

• Swing Latch: A type of door lock or security mechanism. Goldberg claimed he had to break one to enter the apartment.

• Toxicology Report: A report detailing the presence and quantity of drugs and other chemicals in a deceased person's system. Ellen's toxicology report showed benzodiazepines (Clonazepam) present.

• Undetermined: A manner of death classification used when the available information is insufficient to make a more specific classification. Suggested by Dr. Osbourne's amended opinion.

• Vital Response: Biological reactions (e.g., bleeding, inflammation) that occur in living tissue in response to injury. The lack of vital response in certain wounds was debated, suggesting they might have been inflicted post-mortem.

• Zolpidem (Ambien): A sedative-hypnotic drug used for insomnia. Ellen was prescribed it, and some sources note its potential for causing unusual behavior in sleep.

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