New evidence reopens 14-year-old case of woman whose death was ruled suicide despite being stabbed 20 times

New evidence has reopened a 14-year-old case concerning the brutal death of a first-grade teacher.

In January 2011, Ellen Greenberg was found dead on the kitchen floor of her Philadelphia apartment with a 10-inch blade plunged into her chest.

Despite having suffered as many as 20 puncture wounds, with 10 found on her midriff and 10 more on the back of her head and neck, the 27-year-old's death was deemed self-inflicted.

Officials ruled Ellen Greenberg managed to stab herself 20 times (Change.org/Ellen Watch)

The young woman was found covered in blood by her fiancé Sam Goldberg.

Goldberg had told the cops that after kicking down the door to her apartment, he found her on the kitchen floor and attempted to perform CPR until emergency services arrived.

Why was Ellen Greenberg's death ruled a suicide?

What made the case mysterious was that police found no signs of an intruder, neighbors didn't report hearing any noise or disturbance and the woman didn't have any defensive wounds.

Greenberg's parents said they had no reason to suspect Goldberg, and a psychiatrist said Greenberg was happy in the relationship, and denied any abuse.

Officials on the case determined Greenberg's anxiety and sleep meds could have resulted in suicidal thoughts, despite no one close to the teacher saying they heard her express any such thoughts.

The Assistant Philadelphia Medical Examiner, Marlon Osbourne, initially ruled her death as homicide before changing it to suicide after finding her medical history of anxiety relevant.

Ellen Greenberg's parents have insisted she didn't take her own life

Her tragic death sparked controversy and her grief-stricken parents have remained unshaken in their belief that their daughter was murdered.

Previously speaking to the Daily Mail, her father had said: "Ellen stabbing herself 20 times before dying is bulls**t. She died from a very vicious, very painful knife attack."

New evidence has emerged to reopen the case (Facebook/Justice for Ellen)

Joseph Podraza, the attorney representing the parents, also told Fox News that the weapon was never fingerprinted and that there were signs of a struggle in the flat.

In 2019, Joshua and Sandee Greenberg filed a lawsuit against the Medical Examiner's office and Osbourne - which was initially rejected by the Commonwealth Court in September 2023.

Yet the Greenbergs appealed the verdict and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allowed the hearing to go ahead.

Why has Ellen Greenberg's case been reopened?

Now, the family have reached a settlement with the office on the grounds that the city pathologist who conducted the autopsy reopens the case after becoming 'aware of additional information', reports The Washington Post.

Osbourne said in a statement: "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, it is my professional opinion Ellen’s manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide.”

The pathologist said there is new 'information' that needs examining into Greenberg's death (Facebook/Justice for Ellen)

Osbourne continued: "I am now aware that information exists which draws into question, for example, whether Ellen’s fiancé was witnessed entering the apartment before placing the 9-1-1 call on Jan. 26, 2011; whether the door was forced open as reported; whether Ellen’s body was moved by someone else inside the apartment with her at or near the time of her death; and the findings of Lindsey Emery, M.D. from her neuropathological evaluation of Ellen’s cervical segment sample."

Podraza told Fox News: "It’s a tremendous statement by Dr. Osbourne, as far as I’m concerned, and a courageous one. The only thing unfortunate about it is how late in time it came."

Goldberg previously told CNN in a statement for a piece published in December 2024: "When Ellen took her own life it left me bewildered. She was a wonderful and a kind person who had everything to live for. When she died a part of me died with her.

"Unimaginably, in the years that have passed I have had to endure the unimaginable passing of my future wife and the pathetic and despicable attempts to desecrate my reputation and her privacy by creating a narrative that embraces lies, distortions and falsehoods in order to avoid the truth. Mental illness is very real and has many victims."

Ava Schwemler, a spokesperson for the City of Philadelphia Law Department, told the Washington Post that an 'independent review of the autopsy file' will now be conducted.