PA - Ellen Greenberg, 27, Philly teacher’s brutal stabbing, ruled suicide but possible homicide, Jan 2011

  • #281
I'm so sorry for Ellen's family and have been here before with the Zahau's when Rebecca's family went through the same in 2011. Then CA Attorney General Kamala Harris also refused to review the mansion death findings. Although the Zahau's prevailed in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the millionaire boyfriend's brother, Adam Shacknai, they still have not been able to get the ME to change the cause of death from suicide or the agency to reopen the criminal investigation against Adam. Money can indeed be the root of all evil. MOO


IIRC, the family ended up settling out of court in some kind of compromise with Adam, regarding the amount of the judgment, but I don’t recall what the situation was exactly,
 
  • #282
  • #283
How do they know the door was locked from the inside? Couldn't the fiancé have busted dow the door and then locked it or said it was locked from the inside? And how could he not have seen a knife sticking in her chest if she was on her back. His 911 call was suspicious to say the least. Why was door locked from inside if her fiancé was only going downstairs for a short workout? What was her mood when he left her? It's troubling that there is not a better investigation by police.
 
  • #284
IIRC, the family ended up settling out of court in some kind of compromise with Adam, regarding the amount of the judgment, but I don’t recall what the situation was exactly,
Adam was found guilty and $5M Judgement Ordered for the Plaintiff. He of course filed an appeal where Adam's insurance ignored him and the appeal and offered the family a nominal settlement without Adam's endorsement. Like the Greenberg's this wasn't about money to the family but about trying to get justice for Rebecca by finding any method for the ME to change his opinion from suicide to homicide, leading to reopening the criminal investigation, and charges filed in CRIMINAL COURT.
 
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  • #287
I don’t know if this article has been posted before, but it has some interesting details I don’t remember reading. It also shows a picture of one of the bruises on Ellen’s arm at the time of death.

“Meanwhile, Ellen’s friend Alyson Stern thought Ellen’s relationship with Sam was changing — and was changing her. It wasn’t just that she was trying to impress his mother and sisters: losing weight, buying an expensive handbag. She said Ellen seemed increasingly deferential to Sam. When making plans, Ellen needed to ask Sam what he thought. Stern saw them at a party together and noticed Ellen following him around, “like a puppy.” That was not the confident, independent Ellen she used to know.”

“Another picture. There was Ellen’s face, with a line of dried blood along her cheek, from the nose to the ear. Ross said that didn’t make sense, because the medics and police found her with her head propped up against a kitchen cabinet. It seemed inconsistent with gravity. The blood wouldn’t have flowed that way long enough to dry.”
“So you’ve got to look at the different flow patterns and say, ‘Well, she’s obviously been moved,’” he said.”


“Another picture. Strands of Ellen’s dark hair on the floor.”

“See the hair?” Ross said. “So a lot of times, when you’re being strangled, or somebody’s stabbing you, the person will grab the hair.”





 

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  • #288
I have a lot of questions about Sam Goldberg's 911 call and the circumstances surrounding Ellen Greenberg's death.
1. Inconsistencies about the door: On the 911 call, Sam says he had to break down the door to get in, but then claims he walked right in. How could both statements be true? And if he broke the latch, how exactly did he do it? His explanation doesn’t add up.
2. Observations about Ellen’s position: He says he thinks Ellen "hit her head," but she was lying on her back. The autopsy photo shows a deep gash at the back of her head, which could have been caused by hitting the kitchen counter. It’s hard to believe she could have inflicted such a wound herself.
3. The knife and his behaviour: How could Sam not see the knife immediately if it was so prominent in her chest? He also said "we are the only ones here," which feels odd to say in the moment. If Ellen's shirt had a zipper, why didn’t he just unzip it to check on her instead of panicking? His story about her falling on the knife and stabbing herself multiple times is implausible.
4. Blood spatter and swipe marks: Photos of the scene show blood spatter consistent with her being stabbed while upright, and swipe marks suggest she then fell to the floor. This aligns with the theory that there was an altercation in the kitchen where Sam pushed her against the counter while stabbing her.
5. Tone shift on the 911 call: Initially, Sam sounds frantic, but then he becomes much calmer as the call progresses. This shift feels unnatural given the situation.
I believe Sam never left the apartment that day and that he and Ellen had an argument in the kitchen that escalated into violence. Her injuries and the evidence at the scene make it impossible to believe this was a suicide. This case deserves a deeper investigation because so many questions remain unanswered.
 
  • #289

Two legal actions​

The first civil suit was filed in 2019 and seeks to have the manner of Greenberg’s death changed from suicide back to homicide or undetermined.

That suit is awaiting a hearing date before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which agreed to take the case up on an appeal the Greenbergs filed to a 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling.

In that 2-1 opinion, Commonwealth Court judges called authorities investigation into the case “deeply flawed” yet said they had “no choice under the law” but to side with the city.
___________________________________

I'm afraid the very subject of MANNER OF DEATH as determined by the Medical Examiner and/or Coroner is in desperate need of national reform to prevent more families from living this nightmare of not only losing their loved one, but being further traumatized when being told by the Courts that under the respective laws of their State, there is nothing that can legally be done to force investigators to reopen the death investigation of their loved one.

The unchecked power given this party (ME/Coroner) without impunity must be addressed today! The madness to prohibit a death investigation reopened or the death criminally investigated when it's blatantly clear that the known evidence will lead to a criminal indictment, charges, arrest, and prosecution, yet the law won't enforce this action, as long as the manner of death remains listed as suicide, is incomprehensible to me. No family should have to wage a battle to the State Supreme Court to correct the manner of death on the death certificate. MOO

____________________________

In the second action, in 2022, the parents of Ellen Greenberg filed suit alleging the investigation into their daughter’s 2011 death by 20 stab wounds — which was ruled a homicide then switched to suicide — was “deeply botched” and subsequently resulted in a “cover-up” by Philadelphia authorities.

On Wednesday, defense attorneys argued for the case to be dismissed during a summary judgment hearing before Common Pleas Judge Michael Erdos. The suit seeks monetary damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The Philadelphia Law Department, which represents three of the defendants, and outside attorneys for two other defendants in the case contend that Joshua and Sandra Greenberg’s lawsuit lacks merit, the statute of limitations ran out for them to bring their case, and that the defendants, all of whom were or are city employees, have immunity.

Erdos granted summary judgment for one of the defendants, Lindsay Emery, a former pathologist with the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office who was asked in 2019 to examine a section of Greenberg’s spinal column still in storage.

But he withheld his decision on the other four defendants, including the three represented by the city’s Law Department — former Chief Medical Examiner Sam Gulino; retired Homicide Sgt. Tim Cooney; and Homicide Det. John McNamee — and Marlon Osbourne, a former city pathologist who conducted Greenberg’s autopsy and is represented by outside counsel.

In doing so, Erdos requested the Greenbergs’ attorney, Joseph Podraza Jr., file briefs outlining how he intends to show a jury that the remaining defendants directly and intentionally — not just recklessly — inflicted emotional distress upon the Greenbergs.
“It’s a steep climb but not an impossible climb … you have a fighting chance,” Erdos said.
_______________________________

While I'm overjoyed that the Greenberg's may see judicial relief for the second legal claim or suit against the former ME, Pathologist, and retired detectives, no victory here will achieve the goal necessary to enable prosecuting the killer of Ellen. We still need the manner of death to be corrected to homicide or manner of death undetermined. Until then, to investigators, the death of Ellen Greenburg is considered closed. MOO

 
  • #290
I have a lot of questions about Sam Goldberg's 911 call and the circumstances surrounding Ellen Greenberg's death.
1. Inconsistencies about the door: On the 911 call, Sam says he had to break down the door to get in, but then claims he walked right in. How could both statements be true? And if he broke the latch, how exactly did he do it? His explanation doesn’t add up.
2. Observations about Ellen’s position: He says he thinks Ellen "hit her head," but she was lying on her back. The autopsy photo shows a deep gash at the back of her head, which could have been caused by hitting the kitchen counter. It’s hard to believe she could have inflicted such a wound herself.
3. The knife and his behaviour: How could Sam not see the knife immediately if it was so prominent in her chest? He also said "we are the only ones here," which feels odd to say in the moment. If Ellen's shirt had a zipper, why didn’t he just unzip it to check on her instead of panicking? His story about her falling on the knife and stabbing herself multiple times is implausible.
4. Blood spatter and swipe marks: Photos of the scene show blood spatter consistent with her being stabbed while upright, and swipe marks suggest she then fell to the floor. This aligns with the theory that there was an altercation in the kitchen where Sam pushed her against the counter while stabbing her.
5. Tone shift on the 911 call: Initially, Sam sounds frantic, but then he becomes much calmer as the call progresses. This shift feels unnatural given the situation.
I believe Sam never left the apartment that day and that he and Ellen had an argument in the kitchen that escalated into violence. Her injuries and the evidence at the scene make it impossible to believe this was a suicide. This case deserves a deeper investigation because so many questions remain unanswered.
Well, well. well…I could go on forever about that 911 call - and I’m not one who criticizes 911 calls often since it depends so much on the individual. I would probably shut down my outer responses involuntarily and seem real odd. That said…

1. He sounds high. A bit like Brandon Lawson on his 911 call.
2. He really seems bizarre when he says he has to give mouth to mouth. It’s…
3, her position- referring to your point there. Exactly.
4. Blood - there doesn’t seem to be enough of it. She bled out internally but with all those stab wounds?
5. Tone shift - some people are wired that way - being able to ignore the horror in front of them temporarily. I can’t hold that against him.
6. Waiting sooo long and calling relatives before breaking in. Just very very strange.
7. Claiming the security guard was with him when he broke in.
8. Attempting to get a witness to the ”break in” (a classic).

I think she came home early and surprised him doing something bad. Either that or she had the world’s stealthiest stalker, who snuck in and out during Sam’s workout.

Guess what Occam’s razor says…
 
  • #291
None of the growing, credible evidence matters if they won't reopen the death investigation -- and this cannot legally be forced until the manner of death is changed from suicide to homicide or undetermined.


12/15/24

Assistant Philadelphia Medical Examiner Marlon Osbourne initially ruled her death a homicide, but changed it to suicide after a meeting with police and prosecutors.

New details surrounding her death have been revealed in a CNN investigation, which has also uncovered the final text messages from Goldberg.

[..]

After amassing a wealth of evidence pointing to homicide, they sued the ME's office and Osborne in 2019 but were rejected by the Commonwealth Court last September.

But the Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted their request in July to hear an appeal as a 'matter of statewide importance'.

[...]

Instead of continuing with the homicide investigation, they instead conspired to cover it up by having her death ruled a suicide, the lawsuit claimed.
 
  • #292
This is literally one of the craziest things I have ever read - that this case was determined to be a suicide.
 
  • #293
If you're going to have a cover up, at least make it somewhat plausible
 
  • #294
Another aspect to consider - it is important to set standard of accountability - that noone is above the law.

Otherwise we might see an onslaught of botched crime scenes in the future as this case sets a dangerous precedent of how to seamlessly evade justice.

Scenario - Just send in someone posing as a cop who says - by the way it’s fine to clean up the crime scene.

And might I add - use much bleach, lest the members of the upper echelon entering the apartment - might get a speck of blood on their hands.
 
  • #295
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One interesting factor I think was strongly used as to help cover and ruled Ellen as a "suicide", is that her laptop on January 10th, 2011 had a search for quick death and euthanasia, while also browsing a website about painless suicide options.

She was also the week of December 18th, only after THREE SESSIONS with a psychiatrist, was prescribed Klonopin (used to treat anxiety, seizures, and phobia disorders; is a benzodiazepine) and Ambien (used for insomnia). She was diagnosed with anxiety and panic attacks.

They recommend if you have depression or suicidal thoughts, to not take Ambien. Moreover, this just means after three sessions, her psychiatrist basically gave her a drug prescription that exasperated her depression suicidal symptoms (ie - further means of covering up and ruling it a suicide).

Klonopin, side effects depression and may cause suicidal thoughts ( ie - another piece of evidence to pin suicide as a ruling on Ellen!).

Taking these two drugs together is strongly discourage and can lead to dangerous side effects.. like death as one of the main side effects besides difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, and unresponsiveness. It can also cause motor coordination issues to confusion, even dizziness.

If a doctor is prescribing this... if Sam knew the lethal combo of these two drugs together, while learning about the massive side effects, he would 100% use that to his advantage tbh, because it means he could easily get away with murder and blame her depression, anxiety, and panic attacks for it.

What's also interesting, Sam called around 5:44pm Kamian Schwartzman, an attorney who's also a cousin of Sam, to let him know he was locked out of the apartment at the exact same time Sam called 9-1-1.

Kamian's father is Politically-Connected Philadelphia attorney, James Schwartzman.

Let's break down some of this timeline with some immense details from this website that has an insane amount of details for this entire case.
  • Both relatives, also lawyers, instruct Sam at 6:30pm to break open the door.
  • At 6:31pm, they instructed Sam to call 9-1-1
  • Sam calls at 6:33pm
  • EMS arrives on scene at 6:36pm
  • 6:42pm EMS found Ellen up right between two cabinets and pronounced dead
  • 7:30pm, both James and Kamian arrived at the Venice Loft Apartments
  • 7:31pm arrives and request the ME
  • 8:27pm Detectives arrive on the scene
  • January 27, 3am, her body was removed from the scene
  • 9am and later, Melissa Ware the property manager of Venice Loft Apartments, contacted the police between James and Kamian Schwartzman, Sam's uncle and cousin who are lawyers, asked for access to the apartment to get a suit for Sam. The police told Melissa it "wasn't an active crime scene anymore", went so far as to give Melissa the number for a crime scene clean-up crew. She made arrangements same day for clean up. Once the apartment was cleaned up, Melissa called James Schwartzman (Sam's uncle), who showed up and REMOVED not only the suit from the apartment, but Ellen's purse, cell phone, and laptop. After all that, then a police search warrant was given for the apartment.
Items searched and seized from the property as follows:
  • Assorted knives
  • Blood Samples
  • A serrated knife with a black handle
  • Assorted paint samples
  • A bloody hand towel found in the kitchen
  • Other potential evidence items related to the crime scene
  • Assorted clothing
  • More blood samples
  • A diamond ring (most likely the engagement ring)
  • Latex Prints
  • Rubber Maid container
January 29th, Police retrieved Ellen's cell phone and laptop from James C. Schwartzman.

March 2011, PPD demand a meeting face-to-face with Osbourne and Gulino. Also a high-ranking Philadelphia District Attorney was part of this meeting. After the meeting, the ruling from homicide to suicide was made.

April 1st, laptop forensics went through Ellen's search history from December 18th, 2010, through January 10th, 2011.

April 4th, 2012, Detective Scott Eelman in his report, stated Ellen's body was moved. He stated:
It is my opinion, that Ms. Greenberg was not In the position in which she was found at the time that the blood was deposited on her sweat pants, sweat shirt and shoes. lt's also my opinion that Ms. Greenberg’s head had been in several positions during the time of blood flow and it remained so for enough time as to have the blood flow across her face and back toward her ear, upward toward her eyes and also downward toward her chin.

It is my opinion that tho blood stain evidence in this case ls inconsistent with positioning which Ms. Greenberg was found. Furthermore. I have serious concerns regarding the patterned blood stain to the loft of Ms. Greenberg’s right leg, the minimal amount of bloodstains on the floor in comparison with those found on the clothing of Ms. Greenberg and the flow patients of the bloodstains on Ms. Greenberg’s face relative 10 the position in which she was found.

During 2011 - 2013, Greenberg's parents said Goldberg sporadically kept in touch with Sandee for two or three years after her death. 'At the end of the conversation, I would always say, you know, Sam, this was not a suicide, we know this is not,' she told DailyMail.com, 'He never responded, and he would just hang up.

(Him not responding, then immediately hang up after her mother said that... very suspicious.)

June 7, 2012, Dr. Wayne K. Ross issued a reporting stating, "The scene findings were indicative of a homicide".

In 2013, Sam was still in touch with Ellen's parents, he informed them he was getting married to Caroline Fay Shnay, the daughter of well-off real estate agents, at the Plaza in New York City on January 11, 2014, almost exactly three years after Greenberg's death. The couple live in a two-bedroom apartment in Grammercy Park they bought for $1.8 million in 2017. (ie - motives to murder Ellen is he met Caroline anytime within the year of her murder, as in Sam is film and tv producer, her father has wealthy connections to line his pocket for himself and his own projects!).

January 28th, 2018, Dr. Henry-C. Lee, PhD, issued a report stating, "The number and type of wounds and bloodstain patterns are consistent with a homicide".

At the time of 2019, Ellen's parents Attorney contacted the Pennsylvania AG Josh Shapiro, 48th Govern of Pennsylvania since 2023 by the way, with the new evidence, who later still kept it as ruled a suicide.

And as of late 2024 and into 2025, we know the case is 100% being escalated and looked at, even reviewed to the point that it's reaching a level of not just attention with the public, but throughout the entire city of Philly is watching for what is going to happen.
 
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