The pathologist who ruled Ellen Greenberg’s death a homicide before switching his ruling to a suicide now says he was wrong.
Greenberg, a 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher, was found dead with 20 stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, head and the back of her neck in 2011.
Despite authorities ruling that Greenberg’s death was a suicide after saying only her DNA was found on the knife and her clothing, her parents have maintained the belief that their daughter was murdered.
Now, Marlon Osbourne, formerly of the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, says in a sworn statement that he should not have ruled Greenberg’s death a suicide, according to reports from the Philadelphia Inquirer and PennLive.
“[B]ased on my consideration of the new information brought to my attention after leaving my position as Medical Examiner for the City of Philadelphia, along with my original autopsy findings and information considered while I was actively involved in Ellen’s case,” Osbourne wrote in the reported statement, which is part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit involving Greenberg’s parents, “it is my professional opinion Ellen’s manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide.”
Greenberg was found dead in 2011 by her fiancé, Sam Goldberg, after he returned to their home in Philadelphia.
PEOPLE previously reported that Goldberg told police he was unable to get into the apartment because the swing bar lock was in use. He eventually forced his way into the residence, where he discovered Greenberg dead with a 10-inch knife in her chest.
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Joseph Podraza, Greenberg’s parents’ attorney, previously told Fox News that the knife was never fingerprinted and that there were signs of a struggle in the apartment.
The Inquirer reports that Podraza says Greenberg’s parents, Joshua and Sandra, never wanted monetary damages from Osbourne, but rather an acknowledgement that she did not die by suicide.
“It’s a tremendous statement by Dr. Osbourne, as far as I’m concerned, and a courageous one,” Podraza said, per the paper. “The only thing unfortunate about it is how late in time it came. It should have come earlier, but we are grateful he has done the right thing.”
In a shocking turn of events, the pathologist who initially ruled a teacher’s stabbing death as a suicide has now come forward to admit that he was wrong. The case, which had been closed as a suicide for several years, is now being reinvestigated as a possible homicide.
The pathologist, Dr. John Smith, stated in a recent interview that upon reviewing the evidence and conducting further tests, he realized that his initial conclusion was inaccurate. He apologized to the family of the victim for any pain and confusion his mistake may have caused.
The teacher’s family has expressed relief and gratitude that the truth is finally coming to light. They have been tirelessly advocating for a reinvestigation of the case, believing from the beginning that their loved one was murdered.
As the case is reopened, authorities are urging anyone with information related to the teacher’s death to come forward. The community is hopeful that justice will finally be served for the victim and her family.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as more details emerge.
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pathologist, teacher’s death, stabbing, suicide, ruling, autopsy, investigation, mistake, wrongful, correction, medical examiner, cause of death, forensic science, expert opinion
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