The mysterious death of Ellen Greenberg in 2011 continues to fuel speculation and legal battles. Found with 20 stab wounds in her Philadelphia apartment, the case was initially ruled a homicide, then changed to suicide. This shift in ruling, and the subsequent reviews of the case, have drawn significant attention, particularly regarding Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s involvement during his tenure as Attorney General. This article delves into the intricacies of the Ellen Greenberg case, examining the evidence, the conflicting rulings, and Shapiro’s role in the investigation.
The Puzzling Death of Ellen Greenberg: A Timeline of Events
On January 26, 2011, 27-year-old Ellen Greenberg was discovered dead in her Manayunk apartment by her fiancé, Samuel Goldberg. The scene presented a perplexing scenario: a locked door from the inside, no signs of forced entry, and a 10-inch knife embedded in Greenberg’s chest. While the initial assessment by investigators pointed towards suicide, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, upon discovering 20 stab wounds, including 10 to the back of her neck, ruled the death a homicide. This ruling was later reversed to suicide, a decision that has been fiercely contested by Greenberg’s parents for over a decade.
Conflicting Evidence and the Suicide Ruling Controversy
The change in the manner of death ruling from homicide to suicide hinged on several key factors. Police cited the locked door, lack of defensive wounds, and Greenberg’s history of anxiety as supporting a suicide determination. The Medical Examiner’s Office, in reversing its initial homicide ruling, leaned heavily on an alleged neuropathology report by Dr. Lucy Rorke-Adams. This report purportedly concluded that Greenberg’s spinal cord was undamaged by the neck wounds, allowing her to inflict the remaining wounds herself. However, this report has never been produced, and Dr. Rorke-Adams has stated she has no recollection of the case. This missing piece of evidence, coupled with the sheer number of stab wounds, has fueled skepticism about the suicide ruling. Adding to the complexity, Greenberg left no suicide note, and her psychiatrist reported no indication of suicidal ideation during their sessions.
Josh Shapiro’s Involvement: Scrutiny and the “Appearance of Conflict”
In 2018, then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro inherited the Greenberg case review when Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who had previously represented the Greenberg family, referred the case to avoid a conflict of interest. Shapiro’s office upheld the suicide ruling in 2019, citing online search history on Greenberg’s computer related to suicide methods. However, this evidence was countered by the initial medical examiner’s report, which found no digital evidence suggesting suicide. The Shapiro-led Attorney General’s Office also acknowledged the absence of the crucial neuropathology report.
Further controversy arose in 2022 when allegations surfaced regarding Shapiro’s connections to Greenberg’s fiancé’s family. While denying any actual conflict of interest, Shapiro’s office referred the case back to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office due to the “appearance of a conflict.” This decision further fueled online conspiracy theories and intensified public scrutiny of Shapiro’s handling of the case. The case was subsequently transferred to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, where it remains under review with no public announcements to date.
Ongoing Legal Battles and the Fight for Answers
The Greenberg family’s pursuit of justice has continued through the civil court system. A lawsuit against the Medical Examiner’s Office and the pathologist was initially allowed to proceed, revealing new details about the case, including Goldberg’s 911 call and questions surrounding the timing of one of the neck wounds. However, the Commonwealth Court later ruled against the Greenbergs, stating they lacked standing to challenge the manner of death ruling. Despite this setback, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently agreed to hear the Greenbergs’ appeal, focusing on the issue of standing rather than the manner of death itself. A separate civil suit seeking monetary damages for emotional distress is also ongoing.
Conclusion: Unanswered Questions and a Legacy of Doubt
The Ellen Greenberg case remains a complex and unresolved tragedy. The conflicting evidence, the missing neuropathology report, and the controversy surrounding Josh Shapiro’s involvement have all contributed to a persistent cloud of doubt. While the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision on the standing issue will shape the future of the legal battle, the fundamental questions surrounding Ellen Greenberg’s death continue to linger. The case serves as a stark reminder of the intricacies of forensic investigation, the challenges of determining cause of death, and the profound impact of unresolved cases on grieving families. As the legal proceedings continue, the search for definitive answers in the Ellen Greenberg case persists.
