Ellen Greenberg's 2011 death from over 20 stab wounds initially ruled a suicide has now sparked a legal battle. Her parents, Joshua and Sandee Greenberg, have been advocating for a reexamination, believing it was a homicide with mishandled investigations. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently agreed to hear arguments against the ruling.

Sam Goldberg's Statement

Ellen's fiancé, Sam Goldberg, found her deceased in their shared apartment. He initially told investigators the door was locked. In an e-mail statement to CNN, he believes her death was a result of "mental illness." "When Ellen took her own life, it left me bewildered. She was a wonderful and kind person with everything to live for. When she died, a part of me died with her," Sam said. "Unimaginably, in the years that have passed, I've had to endure the unimaginable - the passing of my future wife and the pathetic attempts to desecrate her privacy and my reputation by creating a narrative of lies and falsehoods. Mental illness is very real and has many victims." He concluded, "I hope and pray that you never lose someone you love like I did to a terrible disease and then be accused by ignorant people. If you're writing a truthful story, dig deeper and raise awareness for mental health."

Details of the Investigation

Investigators found that Ellen suffered more than 20 stab wounds and a 10-inch knife was still in her chest when her body was discovered. She had stab wounds to her chest, abdomen, head, and back of her neck, along with a gash on her scalp. Her manner of death was initially ruled a homicide but changed to suicide as investigators only found her DNA on the knife and clothing and claimed no signs of foul play. No one has ever been charged. However, Joshua and Sandee's lawyer, Joe Podraza, claimed the knife was never fingerprinted and there were signs of a struggle in the apartment. Unspecified court documents also noted that the scene was cleaned before detectives arrived. Joshua told CBS News in 2023 that judges have said the investigation was faulty on the part of the police, medical examiner, and district attorney.

Legal Proceedings and Court Hearings

The Chester County District Attorney's office announced in 2022 that it would review the case. In September 2024, it was reported that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to hear Ellen's parents' argument over her manner of death. According to CBS News, the arguments presented to the court will determine if "executors and administrators of an estate" can challenge a medical examiner's findings on a death certificate. Joshua expressed his happiness about the decision, saying, "If we're not going to use the word 'justice,' we're going to use 'undecided' or 'homicide' because that's what we believe this is - a homicide. Ellen was brutally murdered."If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.