No Charges in Ellen Greenberg’s Death Despite 20 Stab Wounds, DA Rules

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Prosecutors in Philadelphia have dealt another setback to the family of Ellen Greenberg, a young teacher whose mysterious 2011 death was controversially ruled a suicide despite more than 20 stab wounds. The Chester County District Attorney’s Office has now concluded that there is insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.
Ellen Greenberg, 27, was discovered dead in her apartment on January 26, 2011. Her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg, found her slumped against kitchen cabinets with a knife embedded in her chest. The scene was deeply unsettling: the beloved elementary school teacher had suffered 20 stab wounds, including gashes to her back, neck, and head.
Initially, Philadelphia Medical Examiner Marlon Osbourne ruled Greenberg’s death a homicide. However, the police quickly challenged this, and the classification was changed to suicide without a clear explanation, sparking outrage and confusion among those closest to her.
For the past 13 years, Joshua and Sandra Greenberg, Ellen’s parents, have waged a relentless campaign for justice, pushing authorities to reconsider the circumstances of their daughter’s violent death.
This week, however, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office announced that it could not pursue criminal charges. The office, which began reviewing the case in 2022, stated it could not meet the legal burden of proving a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
“This standard of proof – beyond a reasonable doubt – makes the criminal investigation different than other legal cases or issues that surround Ms. Greenberg’s death,” a spokesperson explained. “Because we cannot meet our burden of proof with the information and evidence presently available, we placed this investigation in an inactive status.”
Despite the setback, the DA’s office emphasized that the case could be reopened if new evidence comes to light, as there is no statute of limitations for homicide in Pennsylvania.
Greenberg’s family expressed disappointment but remained steadfast in their belief that Ellen was murdered.
“Our conviction about Ellen having been murdered does not change due to the announcement by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office,” said the family’s attorney, Joseph Podraza Jr., in a statement to NBC Philadelphia. He criticized the DA’s investigation, stating, “The office did not investigate the core issues which we have raised, which establish Ellen was murdered, and that evidence remains unchallenged.”
Podraza also highlighted that a former Philadelphia homicide prosecutor, who conducted an independent review of the case, concluded Ellen’s death was indeed a murder.
“We now look forward to an upcoming trial where a full and forthright examination of the core issues surrounding Ellen’s murder may be publicly conducted before an independent Judge and jury of our peers,” he added.
Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to consider the family’s case. The court will address whether executors and administrators have the right to challenge a death certificate’s finding, especially if it obstructs legal actions such as wrongful death claims or victim compensation.
Additionally, the Greenbergs have filed civil lawsuits over the years, targeting officials in the medical examiner’s office, the police department, and the DA’s office, arguing that their daughter’s case was mishandled.
As the legal battle continues, Ellen’s parents hold out hope that new developments will finally bring them the answers and accountability they seek.
### #EllenGreenberg #JusticeForEllen #Philadelphia #UnsolvedMystery #ChesterCountyDA #TrueCrime #PennsylvaniaJustice
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