Ellen Greenberg
Ellen R. Greenberg, age 27
📍 Venice Loft Apartments, 4601 Flat Rock Rd Unit 603, Philadelphia, PA 19127
🏛️ Philadelphia Police Department / Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office / Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office
Case Summary
Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher, was found dead in her apartment on January 26, 2011, with a knife embedded in her chest and multiple stab wounds. Initially ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, the manner of death was changed to suicide weeks later without explanation. Her family has challenged this ruling through civil litigation, with forensic experts questioning the suicide classification.
Timeline of Events
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2011-01-26
16:45Fiancé departs apartment
Samuel Goldberg left the apartment to go to the gym
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2011-01-26
17:15Body discovered
Goldberg returned and forced entry into the apartment, discovering Ellen's body in the kitchen with a knife in her chest
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2011-01-26
18:40Death pronounced
PFD Medic-5 pronounced Ellen dead at the scene
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2011-03-08
Manner of death changed
Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office concluded the manner of death was suicide based on web searches and text messages, closing the investigation
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Points of Interest / Key Leads
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evidence
Lead #1Knife embedded in chest with multiple stab wounds (20 total) across chest, neck, and scalp
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evidence
Lead #2Web searches for 'methods of committing suicide,' 'quick death,' and 'depression' found on her computer
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evidence
Lead #3Text messages from fiancé Samuel Goldberg on day of death showing escalating frustration
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clue
Lead #4Inconsistency: 911 call describes body on back on floor, but police reported finding her slumped against cabinets
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person
Lead #5Samuel Goldberg - fiancé who discovered the body and made 911 call
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Case Information
Case Type:
Cold Case
Status:
Closed (ruled suicide by Pennsylvania Attorney General, but contested by family through ongoing civil litigation)
Case Number:8
Started:January 26, 2011 at 4:45 PM
Last Updated:July 1, 2025