PA PA - Eric Birnbaum Esq., 51, fatally shot outside office, Holland, Bucks Co., 11 Feb 2009

[Waru]

EDIT:This is my first time using this forum so o hope I’m doing this right


Eric Birnbaum was someone very near and dear to me. He was a modest personal injury attorney in northeast Philadelphia’s suburbs. Eric was described as being one of the kindest and gentlest people by quite literally everyone who knew him, and had no known enemies.

February 11th, 2009 Eric was entering his small league firm around 9 am on Buck Road. Buck road was one of the busiest roads in Bucks county. Eric stopped to greet a coworker on his way in the building when a lone gunman walked up behind Eric and shot him in the back of the head. Eric passed away a few hours later in a local hospital.

Now 12 years later there is still almost no case evidence whatsoever. No tips, no fingerprints, nothing. Even with there being a direct eye witness during rush hour in broad daylight, this case is no closer to being solved than it was that day 12 years ago.

Some have made rumors that the Russian mob was somehow involved but there has been no evidence to support this notion. They have reopened the case several times with absolutely no success and there has to be something out there at either isn’t being looked into correctly, or simply isn’t being reported in the case. I believe one of the detectives has mentioned some type of pets say “control group evidence” that hasn’t been released but I’m unaware of what that is(obviously) at this time.

This is the most recent and comprehensive article I could find on the topic at the moment.

Gone Cold: Authorities release sketch of suspected shooter in 10-year-old Bucks County murder


After 12 years, I’m just looking for some answers

 

[JrzyGirl70]

@Waru very sorry about your loved one, hoping you have some closure one day.

Bucks County investigators are offering a $20,500 reward for information on a case involving a Northampton attorney who was murdered 12 years ago to the day.

KNOW ANYTHING? $20K Reward Offered Exactly 12 Years After PA Attorney's Deadly Shooting

 

[Luckyzmom]

@Waru Welcome to WS, am very sorry for the loss of your friend. There are some awesome sleuths here, lots of former LE from all over the country..And some of the nicest most dedicated sleuthers I have the privilege to know.
You came to the right place. I hope you find the answers you need. And I wish you peace and comfort

 

[Marg from Oz]

Not much known about Eric. What was his personal life? Was he married, have a love interest? On the work side was there conflict with a client? Not much to to go on here. MOO
Welcome Waru.....wish you luck in your journey.

 

[MoonShot]

EDIT:This is my first time using this forum so o hope I’m doing this right


Eric Birnbaum was someone very near and dear to me. He was a modest personal injury attorney in northeast Philadelphia’s suburbs. Eric was described as being one of the kindest and gentlest people by quite literally everyone who knew him, and had no known enemies.

February 11th, 2009 Eric was entering his small league firm around 9 am on Buck Road. Buck road was one of the busiest roads in Bucks county. Eric stopped to greet a coworker on his way in the building when a lone gunman walked up behind Eric and shot him in the back of the head. Eric passed away a few hours later in a local hospital.

Now 12 years later there is still almost no case evidence whatsoever. No tips, no fingerprints, nothing. Even with there being a direct eye witness during rush hour in broad daylight, this case is no closer to being solved than it was that day 12 years ago.

Some have made rumors that the Russian mob was somehow involved but there has been no evidence to support this notion. They have reopened the case several times with absolutely no success and there has to be something out there at either isn’t being looked into correctly, or simply isn’t being reported in the case. I believe one of the detectives has mentioned some type of pets say “control group evidence” that hasn’t been released but I’m unaware of what that is(obviously) at this time.

This is the most recent and comprehensive article I could find on the topic at the moment.

Gone Cold: Authorities release sketch of suspected shooter in 10-year-old Bucks County murder


After 12 years, I’m just looking for some answers

Importantly, they have DNA. Hopefully they can use that genetic genealogy to figure out who this guy is.

 

[janewall]

EDIT:This is my first time using this forum so o hope I’m doing this right


Eric Birnbaum was someone very near and dear to me. He was a modest personal injury attorney in northeast Philadelphia’s suburbs. Eric was described as being one of the kindest and gentlest people by quite literally everyone who knew him, and had no known enemies.

February 11th, 2009 Eric was entering his small league firm around 9 am on Buck Road. Buck road was one of the busiest roads in Bucks county. Eric stopped to greet a coworker on his way in the building when a lone gunman walked up behind Eric and shot him in the back of the head. Eric passed away a few hours later in a local hospital.

Now 12 years later there is still almost no case evidence whatsoever. No tips, no fingerprints, nothing. Even with there being a direct eye witness during rush hour in broad daylight, this case is no closer to being solved than it was that day 12 years ago.

Some have made rumors that the Russian mob was somehow involved but there has been no evidence to support this notion. They have reopened the case several times with absolutely no success and there has to be something out there at either isn’t being looked into correctly, or simply isn’t being reported in the case. I believe one of the detectives has mentioned some type of pets say “control group evidence” that hasn’t been released but I’m unaware of what that is(obviously) at this time.

This is the most recent and comprehensive article I could find on the topic at the moment.

Gone Cold: Authorities release sketch of suspected shooter in 10-year-old Bucks County murder


After 12 years, I’m just looking for some answers

Hi Waru,

I'm very sorry that you lost your friend in such a brutal, and still unsolved, way.

The article you linked mentioned a composite sketch released by "Bucks County investigators", but the current web version of the article does not include the sketch. I tried searching Internet Archive for an older version of the article that could possibly contain the sketch, but had no luck as the page had not been saved prior to my search.

There is a Northampton Township PD-issued composite image that comes up on my search engine that is associated with the same article's source (KYW news radio 1060 = KYW am). If this image is clicked on directly from the image search, it redirects to the article. Therefore I think is the same composite mentioned in the article. I am linking it below in the hope that it is permissible per Websleuths TOS, but I am also self-reporting this post in case it doesn't meet those standards. Maybe you can remember if this is indeed the correct composite?

https://images.radio.com/kywam/HOLD FOR RELEASE 2.jpg?width=775&height=&crop=775:1033,smart

I hope your inquiry here strikes a chord in someone's memory and possibly stirs the embers of this cold case. Mr. Birnbaum deserves justice for his coldblooded murder, which certainly sounds like a contract hit of some sort IMO, given the calculated efficiency of the killer's actions.

 

[Lilibet]

Welcome @Waru. I’m so sorry you’ve arrived at Websleuths under these sad circumstances. I’m encouraged though that the police haven’t given up on this case. I hope we can help.

It sounds like a hit to me. In broad daylight! It sounds like he crossed the wrong person. I wish we knew more about Eric...cases he had worked on, any disgruntled clients? And hard questions: Personal life...any debt, perhaps from gambling? An affair? It’s also possible the shooter mistook him for someone else and killed the wrong man. There isn’t a lot to go on unfortunately.

 

[Waru]

@Waru Welcome to WS, am very sorry for the loss of your friend. There are some awesome sleuths here, lots of former LE from all over the country..And some of the nicest most dedicated sleuthers I have the privilege to know.
You came to the right place. I hope you find the answers you need. And I wish you peace and comfort

Thank you so much!

 

[Waru]

Welcome @Waru. I’m so sorry you’ve arrived at Websleuths under these sad circumstances. I’m encouraged though that the police haven’t given up on this case. I hope we can help.

It sounds like a hit to me. In broad daylight! It sounds like he crossed the wrong person. I wish we knew more about Eric...cases he had worked on, any disgruntled clients? And hard questions: Personal life...any debt, perhaps from gambling? An affair? It’s also possible the shooter mistook him for someone else and killed the wrong man. There isn’t a lot to go on unfortunately.

Eric was a divorced father of two girls. Had a good relationship with ex wife and her new husband. In addition had a girlfriend of 10 years, also with two kids. He even got along with the girlfriends ex husband. I literally never met a person who didn’t like the guy.

His practice, which he wasn’t a partner of was a rather small time firm. He did modest personal injury law, usually for older people if I recall correctly. Not really the type of law that creates disgruntled clients.

That being said, I always had the theory that this was actually meant for his Boss and best friend Terry Goldberg(head of the firm). That the time I believe they drove similar cars(Acura TL). They are of similar height and probably wouldn’t look that different from the back. Although Eric’s hair was more grey while Terry’s is closer to white.

Any extravagant s in his life were entirely unknown to me and his family as far as I know.

Let me know if I can provide anymore information.

 

[Waru]

I was able to find the composite sketch as well in this article. It’s pretty generic looking though
Mullane: 10 years later: Who killed Eric Birnbaum?

 

[Waru]

Also one more article that goes into detail about his personal debt and a photograph of his home
Year later, Pa. lawyer's murder still a mystery

 

[janewall]

Also one more article that goes into detail about his personal debt and a photograph of his home
Year later, Pa. lawyer's murder still a mystery

A few takeaways from this article and the one in @Waru's previous post:

If the killer said anything at all that the co-worker speaking with Eric overheard, it sounds as though the police never released that information. It seems like an ambush, an impersonal crime by someone who didn't know him and had no hesitation about what they were doing. It's questionable whether Eric ever knew what was happening.

His debt does not seem at all significant when considering his profession and his family circumstances. He was just taking care of his family, much of the amount he owed was secured, and he had the ongoing cash flow through his cases to be able to pay down the rest on a predictable schedule. Moreover, bank lenders (mortgages and credit cards) aren't going to take out a hit on their debtors, and if he owed anyone else it hasn't come to light in over a decade.

It's a disturbing thought that if this was a hit by a disinterested third party, Eric Birnbaum was mistaken for the target. That's chilling, not only for those who loved Eric but for the intended target. I hope the investigators are aware of this possible angle, and have advised any appropriate precautions this person or those associated with him should take.

All of the above is strictly my unprofessional opinion and speculation. MOO!

 

[Shamrock1]

I wonder if it could be a defendant (or family of a def) in one of his PI cases. Even with modest damages and insurance coverage, some defendants can just snap. JMO.

 

[Lilibet]

Eric was a divorced father of two girls. Had a good relationship with ex wife and her new husband. In addition had a girlfriend of 10 years, also with two kids. He even got along with the girlfriends ex husband. I literally never met a person who didn’t like the guy.

His practice, which he wasn’t a partner of was a rather small time firm. He did modest personal injury law, usually for older people if I recall correctly. Not really the type of law that creates disgruntled clients.

That being said, I always had the theory that this was actually meant for his Boss and best friend Terry Goldberg(head of the firm). That the time I believe they drove similar cars(Acura TL). They are of similar height and probably wouldn’t look that different from the back. Although Eric’s hair was more grey while Terry’s is closer to white.

Any extravagant s in his life were entirely unknown to me and his family as far as I know.

Let me know if I can provide anymore information.

Thanks so much @Waru. I had gotten the sense that he was squeaky clean and this helps confirm that. What a tragedy for everyone in his life!

It sounds more likely to me that it was intended for someone else. So I guess I would ask the same questions about Goldberg.

 

[Lilibet]

Has Goldberg ever considered the possibility that the hit was meant for him? The one year anniversary article doesn’t mention that possibility, which seems pretty important to pursue IMO.

 

[janewall]

@Waru , you might want to consider becoming a Verified Insider on this case, as a friend of the victim. That way you will not have to post approved sources for everything you know regarding Eric, other involved persons, or the specifics of the crime. Websleuths is quite stringent about keeping the discussions based on established facts, not unfounded speculation or rumor. I've heard that the verification process is rather simple and not invasive, and it usually takes place in a matter of days. Details on how to initiate this process can be found here: Rules - Etiquette & Information

As a new member you also should take a look at the Terms of Service (TOS) so that you don't inadvertently run astray of the rules while trying to find answers to this crime. The Rules

Welcome to Websleuths!

 

[Shamrock1]

@Waru , you might want to consider becoming a Verified Insider on this case, as a friend of the victim. That way you will not have to post approved sources for everything you know regarding Eric, other involved persons, or the specifics of the crime. Websleuths is quite stringent about keeping the discussions based on established facts, not unfounded speculation or rumor. I've heard that the verification process is rather simple and not invasive, and it usually takes place in a matter of days. Details on how to initiate this process can be found here: Rules - Etiquette & Information

As a new member you also should take a look at the Terms of Service (TOS) so that you don't inadvertently run astray of the rules while trying to find answers to this crime. The Rules

Welcome to Websleuths!

Yes, please do @Waru! Did I tag you correctly? I’d love to dig into this....I remember when it happened and it was a month after one of our clients revealed that he had a telescope trained on my paralegal’s desk and that he didn’t care for her eye rolls when he called. I’m semi-local too.

 

[Lilibet]

Yes, please do @Waru! Did I tag you correctly? I’d love to dig into this....I remember when it happened and it was a month after one of our clients revealed that he had a telescope trained on my paralegal’s desk and that he didn’t care for her eye rolls when he called. I’m semi-local too.

Wow! I hope you contacted LE and dumped him as a client.

 

[can813]

Has Goldberg ever considered the possibility that the hit was meant for him? The one year anniversary article doesn’t mention that possibility, which seems pretty important to pursue IMO.

I am a close friend to this case and can confirm that police were looking into the possibility of mistaken identity as well as the possibility of the hit being for Terry. I remember for a short while after Terry had a body guard just in case this was the case. But to my knowledge there was nothing that indicated Terry would have a hit on him either. It’s baffling. This was a small firm, in a small-ish town, where you may not know everyone, but you know someone that knows someone who knows someone who knows them.