Teacher's fiancé found with 20 stab wounds suggests possible cause of 'suicide'

Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher who died in 2011 from 20 stab wounds and bruises, had her parents advance from a significant legal battle this week. Her fiancé, Sam Goldberg, spoke publicly about her death for the first time.

Since their daughter's death, Greenberg's parents, Dr. Josh and Sandee Greenberg, have been embroiled in legal battles with the government, challenging the conclusion that it was a suicide. They have filed two ongoing lawsuits, one alleging that local officials and the medical examiner's office concealed their daughter's death and the other seeking to change the death certificate's classification from "suicide" to "homicide" or "undetermined."

On Wednesday, the Greenbergs listened to arguments in their daughter's civil suit for the first time in a Philadelphia City Hall courtroom.

"Sandee stated to Planet Chronicle Digital, "We are getting closer to justice for Ellen and are very determined, not giving up.""

Numerous experts, including forensic pathologists, crime-scene experts, former law enforcement officials, and attorneys, share Greenberg's parents' belief that her death was not a suicide.

However, her fiancé seems to believe otherwise.

Ellen's suicide left me bewildered. She was a wonderful and kind person who had everything to live for. When she died, a part of me died with her, Goldberg said in his first public statement about Greenberg's death.

"In the years that have passed, I have had to endure the unimaginable passing of my future wife and the pathetic and despicable attempts to desecrate my reputation and her privacy by creating a narrative that embraces lies, distortions, and falsehoods in order to avoid the truth. Mental illness is very real and has many victims."

"I hope and pray that you never experience the pain of losing someone you love due to a terrible disease and then be falsely accused by ignorant and misinformed people of causing their death. If you're writing a truthful story, please delve deeper and do some good by raising awareness about mental health."

On January 6, 2011, during a blizzard, the bride-to-be was discovered in her kitchen with 20 stab wounds and a knife in her chest, while a half-made fruit salad was on the countertop.

In Manayunk, a quiet neighborhood in Philadelphia, Goldberg discovered Greenberg's lifeless body in their shared apartment after returning from the gym.

Dr. Marlon Osbourne, a forensic pathologist with the city medical examiner's office, initially ruled Greenberg's death a homicide, according to court documents. However, after meeting with police behind closed doors, he reversed course and officially deemed it a suicide.

According to court documents, Greenberg's stab wounds included at least one that could have been inflicted after she was already dead, with 10 wounds being made from behind.

Greenberg's parents did not respond to Goldberg's statement, but they had previously described what they believed Ellen was going through before her death.

"Josh Greenberg, previously told Planet Chronicle Digital, that his daughter was being abused and had injuries on her body consistent with abuse."

The autopsy report revealed that Greenberg had bruises at different stages of healing, indicating that she had sustained them over a period.

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Greenberg's parents stated that prior to her passing, their daughter had expressed a desire to move out of her shared apartment with Goldberg and return to their family home in Harrisburg. Dr. Ellen Berman, a psychiatrist, diagnosed Greenberg with anxiety at the time of her death. Notably, Berman noted that Greenberg did not harbor suicidal thoughts or emotions.

An independent review of the autopsy by Dr. Cyril Wecht, a renowned forensic pathologist, revealed "strongly suspicious evidence of homicide."

After his death in May, Wecht, who had previously spoken to Planet Chronicle Digital, stated that based on the forensic evidence, the notion that Greenberg took his own life was "extremely unlikely."

Greenberg's parents, along with outside investigators, have consistently expressed concerns that the police mishandled their investigation into her death and released the scene prematurely. They have also raised questions about why Greenberg's uncle, James Schwartzman, was permitted to remove several items from the scene.

Jim Schwartzman removed computers, electronics, and my daughter's handbag from the crime scene without our permission, breaking the chain of custody from the very beginning, Greenberg's father previously told Planet Chronicle Digital.

Schwartzman's representative denied removing Greenberg's handbag but confirmed the removal of her computers and cellphones, stating that police had given Schwartzman permission to do so.

Neither Goldberg nor Schwartzman have been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Greenberg's death.

The Chester County District Attorney's Office declared last month that, following their investigation, prosecutors are unable to proceed with criminal charges against Greenberg. They have placed his case on "inactive" status in Chester County but have left it open for re-evaluation if new information becomes available.

In September, the Greenbergs and their attorney were granted a hearing by Pennsylvania's Supreme Court.

Dr. Greenberg previously stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that the Supreme Court will be determining whether Sandee and he have standing, which is a significant decision as no one has previously reached this stage. Despite taking nearly 14 years, the case remains crucial.

Philadelphia police and Goldberg did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment on the case. They have previously declined to discuss the case due to the open investigation in Chester County and ongoing civil litigation.

Planet Chronicle' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.