Medical Examiner Will Reopen Case of Ellen Greenberg, Teacher with 20 Stab Wounds Whose Death Was Ruled Suicide

Mar. 15, 2025

Ellen Greenberg.Photo: Facebook

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office will reopen the investigation into the 2011 death ofEllen Greenberg, the teacher who was found with 20 stab wounds and whose death was controversially ruled a suicide.

The development comes after Greenberg’s parents, who have remained steadfast in their belief that their daughter was murdered, reached a settlement with the office after they filed suit against the city, according to reports fromNBC 10andCBS Philadelphia.

Thesettlement agreementcomes as a former pathologist submitted a sworn statement in which he says he was wrong to change his ruling on Greenberg’s death from homicide to suicide, thePhiladelphia Inquirerreported.

“Based 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,” Marlon Osbourne wrote in the reported statement, “it is my professional opinion Ellen’s manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide.”

Despite initially ruling the death a homicide, authorities changed it to suicide, saying only Greenberg’s DNA was found on the knife and her clothing.

Greenberg was found with 20 stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, head and the back of her neck.

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Joseph Podraza, the attorney representing parents Joshua and Sandra Greenberg, previously toldFox Newsthat the knife was never fingerprinted and that there were signs of a struggle in the apartment.

source: people.com