Tag: Teacher

The city of Philadelphia settled Monday with the parents of Ellen Greenberg, a teacher whose 2011 death was ruled a suicide after she was found with nearly two dozen stab wounds and covered in bruises, and the city’s medical examiner’s office will take a new look at Greenberg’s manner of death, their attorney Joseph Podraza confirmed with Fox News Digital. 

It’s been 14 years since 27-year-old Greenberg was found in her kitchen with 20 stab wounds and a knife in her chest with a half-made fruit salad on the countertop during a blizzard on Jan. 26, 2011. 

A judge on Friday ruled that a 2022 lawsuit filed by her parents against the city of Philadelphia could move to trial, and the forensic pathologist with the city medical examiner’s office, Dr. Marlon Osbourne, backtracked on his suicide ruling, according to legal documents. 

“It is my professional opinion Ellen’s manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide,” Osbourne wrote. 

JUDGE DUMBFOUNDED BY ERROR AT SITE OF ‘SUICIDE’ WHERE TEACHER WAS FOUND STABBED 20 TIMES

A split image shows Ellen Greenberg smiling in an undated family photo, and a computer-generated photo based on an autopsy report showing knives where she had been stabbed 20 times. (Greenberg family)

The former Philadelphia pathologist initially ruled Greenberg’s death a homicide in 2011, according to court documents. Then he reversed course after meeting with police behind closed doors and officially deemed it a suicide.

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“Since issuing the amended death certificate, I have become aware of additional information I did not have at the time of issuing the amended death certificate which may have impacted my opinion,” he added in his recent statement.

The Greenbergs entered a Philadelphia courtroom Monday morning to begin the trial in their case, which accuses local officials and the medical examiner’s office, including Osbourne, of covering up their daughter’s death and participating in a “concealed conspiracy for the purpose of disguising Ellen’s homicide as a suicide,” according to legal documents. 

The city will pay Dr. Josh and Sandee Greenberg an undisclosed amount in Monday’s settlement, Podraza confirmed.

FIANCÉ OF TEACHER FOUND WITH 20 STAB WOUNDS SUGGESTS WHAT LED TO HER ‘SUICIDE’

Ellen Greenberg in an undated family photo with fiance Sam Goldberg. (Greenberg family)

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“I don’t think anyone disagrees the crime scene should have been handled differently,” Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Erdos said during oral arguments heard in court in early December, Podraza previously told Fox News Digital. “The fact the death certificate still lists the cause of death as suicide is puzzling.”

“I feel like we’re advocating for her,” Sandee said in a statement to Fox News Digital after the December hearing. “We are getting closer to justice for Ellen. We are very determined and not giving up.”

The Greenbergs have been entangled in legal battles with the government ever since their daughter’s death, fighting the determination that it was a suicide, and they have alleged a “conspiracy” to “cover-up Ellen’s murder in order to hide the authorities’ grossly botched investigation,” according to court records.

ELLEN GREENBERG PROSECUTORS SAY THEY CAN’T PROVE CRIME IN ‘SUICIDE’ BY 20 STAB WOUNDS

Ellen Greenberg with her parents, Dr. Josh and Sandee Greenberg. (Ellen Greenberg’s family)

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At the time of her death, Greenberg had sent out save-the-date notices for her wedding with Sam Goldberg, who said he returned home from a gym, broke down the door and found his fiancée’s body in their shared apartment in Manayunk, a quiet neighborhood in Philadelphia. 

Greenberg’s 20 stab wounds included 10 from behind, at least one of which could have been inflicted after she was already dead, according to court documents. She was also found covered in bruises in different stages of healing, implying she had received them over the course of some time, according to the autopsy report. 

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The Greenbergs and outside investigators have questioned why authorities allowed the crime scene to be professionally cleaned and sanitized before detectives arrived with a search warrant, and they have also questioned why Goldberg’s uncle, James Schwartzman, a prominent Pennsylvania judge, was allowed to enter the apartment and remove a number of Greenberg’s belongings, including her computer and cellphone, according to court records. 

A representative for Schwartzman previously told Fox News Digital that police gave him permission to go in and take Greenberg’s belongings, confirming he had removed her computers and cellphones. 

“The door was damaged and unsecure, and he took out items that he thought might be stolen,” the representative for Schwartzman explained on his behalf. 

JUDGE TIED TO ELLEN GREENBERG’S FIANCÉ TOOK ITEMS FROM HER ‘SUICIDE’ SCENE BEFORE POLICE SEARCH

Ellen Greenberg worked as a teacher. (Ellen Greenberg’s family)

In addition to their latest lawsuit, the Greenbergs filed another lawsuit in 2019, aiming to have the designation of “suicide” on her death certificate replaced with “homicide” or “undetermined.” That case is pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

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Philadelphia police did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. They have previously declined to discuss the case, citing the ongoing civil litigation. Goldberg did not immediately respond for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.