Ellen Greenberg Case Reopened: Pennsylvania DA Reviews New Evidence in 2011 Death

Nearly 14 years after the controversial death of Ellen Greenberg, found with 20 stab wounds in her Philadelphia apartment, the case is receiving renewed attention. The Chester County District Attorney’s office, which took over the case in 2022, is actively reviewing the investigation and could soon provide updates.

A spokeswoman for the Chester County DA’s office confirmed that detectives and attorneys are working on the case. "It’s all dependent on where our detectives are at in the investigation," Dana Moore said, noting that an update could come "in the coming weeks or months."

The case, initially ruled a homicide before being controversially changed to a suicide, has been surrounded by questions. A Pennsylvania woman, who identified herself as an amateur cold-case investigator, provided PennLive with new information. After reviewing hours of surveillance footage from the Venice Loft apartments in the Manayunk neighborhood, where Ellen lived, she claims to have identified a "mystery man" behaving suspiciously around the time of Ellen’s death.

The woman reported that the man, captured on video between 4 p.m. and 6:10 p.m., appeared “nervously bouncing around” before heading upstairs when Ellen’s fiancé, Sam Goldberg, was at the gym. She described seeing the man come downstairs with injuries, head to the bathroom, and later return with something large hidden under his clothes. Afterward, he picked up a swipe card dropped by Goldberg without examining it. "He didn’t look at it to see what it was, but he checked to see if anyone saw him," she told PennLive. This timeline and related images were turned over to the DA’s office two years ago.

Moore did not comment directly on this new evidence but emphasized, "Our detectives and attorneys have been on this case... Every lead – everything -- is being taken very seriously."

The Chester County DA’s investigation marks the first official review of the case since the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, under then-AG Josh Shapiro, completed an “exhaustive review” in 2022. Despite their efforts, which included new forensic analysis, the AG’s office ultimately handed off the case due to a conflict of interest.

For Ellen’s parents, Joshua and Sandee Greenberg, the AG’s review was insufficient. They have spent $700,000 on their own investigation, challenging the suicide ruling. Their fight for “Justice for Ellen” has led to two civil cases. One of these cases, now before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, could set a precedent for families challenging manner of death rulings made by coroners.

The Greenbergs’ legal battle also includes allegations of a conspiracy between Philadelphia authorities to cover up what they believe was Ellen’s murder. "We hate to leave Harrisburg," Sandee told PennLive, explaining that financial pressures from their private investigation forced them to sell their home and relocate to Florida.

Ellen, a 27-year-old elementary school teacher, was found stabbed in the kitchen of her locked apartment during a snowstorm. Despite the severity of her injuries, Philadelphia detectives quickly classified her death as a suicide, and her apartment was never treated as a crime scene. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner initially ruled her death a homicide, only to change it to suicide months later without further explanation.

The Greenbergs hope the Chester County DA will bring the closure they’ve sought for over a decade, with Ellen’s mother stating, "We’re still fighting for our daughter."
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