Ellen Greenberg
Parents Contest Medical Examiner’s Conclusion of Suicide
Published October 15, 2025 9:43 AM PDT
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Updated October 15, 2025 11:10 AM PDT
ABC News
Ellen Greenberg‘s parents are seeking answers after a medical examiner reaffirmed their daughter’s suicide ruling from 2011, asserting that the examiner lacks insight into Ellen’s mental state at the time.
Sandee and Josh Greenberg expressed their doubts regarding Ellen’s official cause of death during an interview with ABC News.
Sandee argues that from a “clinical perspective,” there’s insufficient evidence to conclude that Ellen took her own life, criticizing the medical examiner’s credibility concerning her mental health, as the examiner never actually knew her.
The Greenbergs concluded their interview by stating they’re unsure of their next steps but will not retreat quietly following the M.E.’s determination.
As previously reported, Greenberg, a 27-year-old teacher from Philadelphia, was discovered dead by her fiancé in 2011. She had sustained 20 stab wounds in her neck and head, with a knife lodged in her chest.
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s office originally classified her death as a homicide, only to later change it to suicide after discussions with the Philadelphia Police Department.
TMZ.com
In 2025, Greenberg’s family urged local authorities to revisit the case, but the M.E. reiterated the suicide finding, effectively closing it once more.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Lindsay Simon issued a 32-page report asserting that although the nature of the injuries is indeed uncommon, it is still conceivable that Ellen could have inflicted those wounds on herself.
Joseph Podraza Jr., representing the Greenberg family, criticized the report as a “severely flawed effort to rationalize a predetermined conclusion.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
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