8: Ellen Greenberg's Parents Not Standing Down To Courts Corrupt Decision

The tragic and perplexing death of Ellen Greenberg in 2011 remains a point of contention and heartbreak for her family. Despite the Pennsylvania appellate court's recent ruling against them, the Greenbergs refuse to let the matter rest.

A Death Shrouded in Doubt

Ellen, a respected teacher in Philadelphia, was discovered dead in her Manayunk apartment on a bleak, snowy evening in January 2011. The circumstances surrounding her death were puzzling. With her apartment door deadbolted from the inside, her fiancé had to break in after futilely trying to reach her for over an hour. What he found was shocking: Ellen's lifeless body with 20 stab wounds.

However, the medical examiner's report compounded the family's anguish. Initially categorizing her death as a homicide, the examiner later reversed this to "suicide." As Joshua Greenberg, Ellen's father, shared with CBS News Philadelphia, "We don't believe our daughter committed suicide." The change in the cause of death has led to widespread skepticism. Not only does the Greenberg family doubt the conclusion, but their attorneys, their experts, and even some court officials have voiced concerns about the investigation's integrity.

Legal Roadblocks and Controversy

In their pursuit of justice, the Greenbergs have faced a maze of legal setbacks. Recently, their bid to change the official cause of death on their daughter's death certificate was thwarted by the Commonwealth Court. The court's 2-to-1 ruling stated that the Greenbergs didn't have the standing to raise this challenge. Yet, even within this ruling, questions were raised. As Joshua Greenberg noted, the judges indicated that the investigation had evident flaws involving the police, the medical examiner, and the district attorney.

Such criticisms are amplified by the Greenbergs' attorney, Joe Podraza. Speaking with CBS News Philadelphia, he expressed disbelief over how Ellen's death was handled by various city agencies. One particular point of contention is a wound on Ellen's neck that had no blood traces, suggesting it was inflicted post-mortem. "To say this is a suicide is to say that Ellen stabbed herself twice after she was already dead," Podraza stated, emphasizing the absurdity of such a claim.

The Quest for Evidence and Transparency

The Greenberg family's crusade for the truth doesn't stop at challenging the medical examiner's findings. They have also taken legal action against the city, aiming to gain access to potentially revealing surveillance footage from Ellen's apartment building and the entire police case file. Additionally, they're suing the medical examiners, alleging a cover-up of a homicide.

These efforts point to a deeper issue at hand: possible obstructions in the investigation. When asked if someone might be thwarting the investigation, Podraza responded, "There's something going on here plainly interfering with it. I don't know what it is."

In a response to the ongoing controversy, the City of Philadelphia urged the Greenbergs to present any new evidence they might have to the investigators in Chester County, as they now hold the authority to re-investigate the case.

An Undying Hope for Justice

The pain for the Greenbergs is palpable. Each day without Ellen is a reminder of their loss. Sandra Greenberg, Ellen's mother, shared, "I try not to dwell on that even though there is a big hole in my heart."

Despite the majority ruling of the Commonwealth Court against the Greenbergs, a glimmer of hope remains. A third judge believed the family had a valid standing to challenge the death certificate's cause of death. Buoyed by this support, the Greenbergs are now setting their sights on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, even though it remains uncertain whether the court will entertain the matter.

In Conclusion

The tragedy of Ellen Greenberg's death is compounded by the numerous unanswered questions and the arduous legal battles faced by her family. As they remain unwavering in their pursuit of truth and justice, one can only hope that clarity and closure will someday be achieved for both Ellen and her loved ones.