In 2011, Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old woman, was found dead in the apartment she shared with her fiancé, Sam Goldberg. She was discovered with a knife lodged in her chest on the kitchen floor. Upon examination at the medical examiner’s office, Philadelphia Assistant Medical Examiner Marlon Osbourne identified 20 stab and slash wounds on her body, approximately half of which were located on the back of her head and neck.

Ellen Rae Greenberg

In 2011, Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old woman, was found dead in the apartment she shared with her fiancé, Sam Goldberg. She was discovered with a knife lodged in her chest on the kitchen floor.

Ellen Rae Greenberg, born on June 23, 1983, in New York City, was the only child of Joshua and Sandra Greenberg.

1994 The family moved to the Harrisburg from NY, Ellen attended Susquehanna Township Middle schools.

After graduating high school, Ellen Attended Pen State University. While at Penn State University, she worked as a “Lionizer,” where she introduced athletes and their parents to the campus and even helped out on the football field.

Ellen graduated from Penn State with a degree in communications. She planned on becoming a speech pathologist, but realized it wasn’t the right career path for her. She then attended Temple University at night to earn her teaching credentials. After Ellen obtained her teaching credentials. Ellen began her career as a first-grade teacher at Juniata Park Academy.

In 2007 Ellen met her fiancé, Sam Goldberg, through a mutual friend and they went on a blind date. In the Summer 2010, After three years of dating, Sam proposed to Ellen on the beach during a trip to California. Ellen accepted his proposal, marking the beginning of their journey towards marriage in August 2011. Ellen Greenberg and Sam Goldberg moved to a modern apartment on the 6th floor with views of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.

December 2010, the month leading up to her death, Ellen Greenberg’s parents and friends began to notice a significant change in her behavior. Ellen, who had always been cheerful and composed, became increasingly anxious and stressed. When questioned about these changes, Ellen attributed her anxiety to work pressures and the stress of planning her wedding, scheduled for August. In December 2010 Her anxiety reached a point where she even expressed a desire to quit her job and move back home with her parents.

As Ellen’s anxiety continued to escalate and began affecting her sleep, her family urged her to seek professional help. Following their advice Ellen saw a psychiatrist on three occasions, who prescribed her Klonopin and Ambien. Klonopin, a long-acting benzodiazepine, was intended to help manage her anxiety and panic attacks, while Ambien was prescribed for her insomnia. Ellen initially reported to her loved ones that the medications seemed effective, and she felt better.

On the 22nd of January, Ellen sent out her save-the-date cards for the wedding as they had set a date to get married in August 2011. That day She was also helping her close friend with upcoming wedding, That Saturday they went dress shopping for bridesmaids dress. While looking for bridesmaids dress Ellen began crying and told her friend “I’m so sorry, I know I’m not myself. But I’ll get it together.”‘

On January 26, 2011, Ellen left work early because of a severe snowstorm. On the way home she stopped at the gas station to get gas. That afternoon her fiance Sam also left work early. When she was back to her apartment she entered grades for her 1st grade students.

Her fiancé, Sam Goldberg, left their apartment to go to the gym within their complex at 4:45 p.m while Ellen was on her laptop looking up wedding venues.

When he returned at 5:30 p.m., he found that he couldn’t enter the apartment because the door had a hotel room-style latch engaged from the inside. Despite using his key and banging on the door, Ellen did not respond or unlock it. Samuel sent Ellen text message: “Hello” – “open the door” – “what r u doin” – “im getting pissed” – “hello” – “you better have an excuse” – “what the f***” – “ahhh” – “u have no idea”

Samuel then went downstairs to the lobby and asked Phil Hanton, the security guard, to help him break the lock. Phil refused as he told him it was against policy. Samuel called his cousin and went upstairs and forced the door open himself.

Just inside the door, Samuel found Ellen slumped on the floor in the kitchen leaning against the cabinets. His cousin and uncle instructed him to call 911. He called 911 at 6.33pm.

Samuel was instructed to remove Ellen’s sweater and to administer CPR, that’s when Sam noticed that there was a knife in Ellen’s chest, Operator was instructed Sam to stop administering CPR and Paramedics are on the way.

Emergency responders arrived at 6:36 p.m. and found Ellen in a semi-upright position between two corner cabinets. Ellen had been discovered seated on the kitchen floor inside her locked Manayunk apartment with a serrated knife plunged four inches into her chest. A strainer filled with blueberries and an orange, appearing freshly sliced, rested on the counter. Two clean knives were in the sink. And 20 stab wounds, with 10 alone to the back of Ellen’s neck, covered her body. She was pronounced dead at 6.40pm.

Ellen Rae Greenberg
1983 – 2011

Engagement 2010

January 26, 2011, Ellen Greenberg Body was found under suspicious circumstances involving multiple stab wounds

Her death in January 2011, under suspicious circumstances involving multiple stab wounds, has been the subject of ongoing investigation and controversy.

January 26, 2011

Sam Goldberg went to the Gym and returned about 30 minutes later, he found himself locked out, as the apartment’s swing bar lock was engaged from the inside.

Unable to reach Ellen by phone, text, email, or by shouting through a cracked door, Goldberg said he forcibly broke it open and discovered Ellen unresponsive on the kitchen floor.

On January 26, 2011, 6:31 p.m.

On the kitchen counter, a strainer filled with blueberries and a freshly sliced orange were visible.

Two Clean kitchen knives are in the sink adjacent to the body. There is no evident blood.

A knife block is on the counter turned over to the side. Also no evident blood.

The knife in her body was consistent with the knife set found in the sink and in the block.

On January 26, 2011 6:33 p.m.,

Sam Goldberg called 911 to report that Ellen Greenberg was lying on the kitchen floor with “blood everywhere.” He explained that he had left their sixth-floor apartment around 45 minutes earlier to work out in the gym on the first floor.

Sam Goldberg’s described in his 911 call, that he found Ellen Greenberg lying flat on her back.

On January 26, 2011, 6:33 p.m.

Ellen Greenberg had been discovered seated on the kitchen floor with her head and upper body resting against the cabinets, inside her locked Manayunk apartment with a serrated knife plunged four inches into her chest.

6:40 PM EMS arrived, they observed that Ellen was seated in the corner of the kitchen, with coagulated blood running horizontally from her nose to her ear.
Note: This positioning indicates that she was likely initially lying flat on the ground when she was stabbed. No neighbors reported any loud noises or arguments.

Ellen R Greenberg Crime Scene Door Latch-1

Sam Goldberg went to the Gym and returned about 30 minutes later, he found himself locked out, as the apartment’s swing bar lock was engaged from the inside.

Unable to reach Ellen by phone, text, email, or by shouting through a cracked door, Goldberg said he forcibly broke it open and discovered Ellen unresponsive on the kitchen floor.

The photograph shows that the screws attaching the swing bar lock to the door were dislodged, but that the door appears to be otherwise undamaged

Police Report

Detective atrived to the scene at 2027 and was met by Fifth District Police, Snipes 6358 and Young 6960, holding the log. NWDD Sgt. Ferguson 446, Det Veal 9216 and Det Reve 9020, the assigned. DC 11-05- 001577. Homicide Sierra 9103 and Peters 851 arrived a short time later. The decedents fiancé Samuel Goldberg DOB along with his family and some friends are also present.

Ellen’s body was found on the hardwood kitchen floor, located just inside the door entrance. The decedent is found supine with her head and some of her upper body/ shoulders resting against the lower half of the white kitchen cabinets next to the range.
Her body, starting with the head is facing north and the legs west. She is clad in a zipper up dark colored shirt overtop a t-shirt, grey sveatpants, underwear, and light brown UGG boots.
A pair of eyeglasses are on the floor to the right of the decedent.
A white towel is grasped in her left hand.
A hair tie or scrunchie is on her right wrist.
There are no personal effects on the body.

Upon further examination of the body, the decedent has a knife embedded in her left chest, through her clothing. There are multiple stab wounds examined at the scene; at the chest where the knife is located, a few superficial grouped nearby, one to the left upper chest near the clavicle, 2 more at the mid chest between and just below the breasts. There are defects to the shirts consistent with the underlying wounds.

There are no defense injuries to the hands, wrists or forearms.
The right hand is closed in a loose fist.
Postmortem findings at arrival at 20:27 and 21:55 are the same.
The body is mostly flaccid. The hands appear to be slightly stiff.
The body is cool to the touch at the extremities and warm to the touch at the torso, front and back.
Lividity is inconspicuous.

Findings are consistent with current position of the body.

Blood is present on the head, in tile hair and neck:

The right hand has blood on it
On the front side of her shirts,
along her pants on tile front side and
on the top of both of her boots is blood.
The right boot has blood on the sole.
The blood around her his generally confined to the area of the body,
on the floor underneath and on the face of the cabinets behind her.
One small blood spatter is on tile cabinet to the left of the body.
Two separate drops of blood spatter are on the granite counter top above her.

Two kitchen knives are in the sink adjacent to the body. They are free of any blood or tissue. The sink underneath is dry and also bears no evidence of blood or tissue. A knife block is on the counter between the sink and range. It is turned over to the side. The three utensils are a spatula, fork and pearing knife, all that bears no evidence of blood or tissue. The knife in her body is consistent with the knife set found in the sink and in the block.

Inside a bedroom drawer, Mr. Olszewski recovered the Victim’s prescription drugs, which included two types of anti-anxiety medication and a sleep aid. The medication had been prescribed by Dr. Ellen Berman, a psychiatrist, who saw the patient on three occasions in the two weeks preceding her death.

Read Report

Fiance Sam Goldberg Statement

Mr. Goldberg told the officers who responded to the 9-1-1 call that he had left the couple’s sixth-floor apartment to visit their building’s gym at approximately 4:45 p.m.

Approximately 45 minutes later, Mr. Goldberg said, he returned to the sixth floor but found the apartment door’s swing bar lock engaged from the inside.

Mr. Goldberg explained that he returned to the building lobby to try to reach the Victim via cell phone calls and text messages. When approximately one hour had passed without a response, Mr. Goldberg said, he decided to enter the apartment by force.

Mr. Goldberg stated that he returned to the sixth floor accompanied by a building security guard, later identified as Philip Hanton, and forced open the door. Id. Once inside, Mr. Goldberg discovered the Victim seated on the kitchen floor, with her head slouched over.

Mr. Goldberg recounted that he immediately called 9-1-1. Id. In accordance with the emergency operator’s instructions, Mr. Goldberg lifted the Victim’s slouched head in order to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). At that moment, Mr. Goldberg discovered the knife lodged in the Victim’s chest. Medics arrived and pronounced the Victim dead at 6:40 p.m.

In a written declaratio Mr. Hanton stated that that he did not accompany Mr. Goldberg to the sixth floor on the night in question and was not present when Mr. Goldberg entered the apartment.

ELLEN GREENBERG INJURIES

Ellen R Greenberg Autopsy Computer Model Neck Anatomy with Knives

Ellen R Greenberg Autopsy Computer Model Chest Anatomy with Knives

In January 2011, Ellen Greenberg was found stabbed to death—20 times—on the floor of her Philadelphia kitchen. Initially, authorities classified her death as a homicide, identifying the 10-inch knife discovered in her chest as the murder weapon.

On January 27, 2011, at 9 a.m., Dr. Marlon Osbourne conducted an autopsy on Ellen Greenberg.

During his examination, he observed multiple stab wounds to her chest, abdomen, and the back of her neck. These injuries affected critical areas, including her aortic arch, left lung, and cervical spine.

Dr. Osbourne noted that a 12.5 cm (4.9 in) blade was embedded in her chest wound, penetrating to a depth of 10 cm (3.94 in). Additionally, he observed multiple bruises on her body at various stages of healing, suggesting they were sustained at different times.

Based on his initial findings, Dr. Osbourne ruled the death a homicide.

First Autopsy Report – Homicide

Autopsy Report January 27, 2011 – Homicide

Autopsy Report April 4, 2011 – Suicide

In January 2011, Ellen Greenberg was found stabbed to death—20 times—on the floor of her Philadelphia kitchen. Initially, authorities classified her death as a homicide, identifying the 10-inch knife discovered in her chest as the murder weapon. However, weeks later, the manner of death was reclassified as suicide.

On January 27, 2011, at 9 a.m., Dr. Marlon Osbourne conducted an autopsy on Ellen Greenberg.

During his examination, he observed multiple stab wounds to her chest, abdomen, and the back of her neck.

These injuries affected critical areas, including her aortic arch, left lung, and cervical spine.

Dr. Osbourne noted that a 12.5 cm (4.9 in) blade was embedded in her chest wound, penetrating to a depth of 10 cm (3.94 in). Additionally, he observed multiple bruises on her body at various stages of healing, suggesting they were sustained at different times.

After meeting with detectives and the board members, Dr. Osborne changed his initial findings, and ruled the death a homicide.

Second Autopsy Report – Suicide

2017 Dr. Wayne K. Ross Findings

There was evidence of a stab wound which penetrated the cranial cavity and severed the cranial nerves and brain. As a result she would experience severe pain, cranial nerve dysfunction and traumatic brain signs and symptoms including numbness, tingling, irregular heartbeat and bradycardia, respiratory depression, neurogenic shock and irnpaired/loss of consciousness.

There was evidence of strangulation. There was a mark over the front of the neck w’hich was consistent with a fingernail mark. There were multiple bruises under the neck and in the strap muscles over the right side of the neck. The patterns were compatible with a manual strangulation.

There were multiple braises over the body some of which were fresh, many of which were older. The patterns were consistent with a repeated beating.

The scene findings were indicative of a homicide.

Ellen Greenberg – Autopsy Reconstructed 3D Computer Model

3-dimensional female model was created based on the measurements in autopsy report

27 years old
Height 5 foot 7 inches
Weight 136 pounds
The 3D model was brought into 3D editing software
Cameras were placed in 3D space to match the autopsy photographs
The exchangeable image file format (EXIF) data from the digital autopsy photographs were used to set the focal length of the computer cameras
A computer generated 3D ruler was created based on the ruler evident in the autopsy photographs
The 3D ruler was positioned in several of the camera views to match the autopsy photographs and confirm the scale
The autopsy photographs were used to position the wounds and bruises on the 3D model

Reconstructed 3D Computer Model

Ellen R Greenberg Autopsy Computer Model Neck and Chest Anatomy with Knives

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First Autopsy Report 2011

Second Autopsy Report 2011

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