Ellen Greenberg’s Case Closed—But Questions Still Linger | Crime Alert 5PM 10.28.25

On January 26, 2011, 27-year-old Greenberg was discovered deceased in her Philadelphia apartment by her fiancé, Sam Goldberg, during a severe snowstorm. What really happened to Ellen Greenberg?

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alard hourly update breaking crime news Now. I'm Nicole Parton.
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's office has re evaluated the circumstances
surrounding the death of Ellen Greenberg, who passed away in
twenty eleven, and has once again concluded that her death
was a suicide. As a result of this long anticipated finding,

(00:21):
a judge closed the case in Greenberg's death at a
brief hearing on October fourteenth. On January twenty six, twenty eleven,
twenty seven year old Greenberg was discovered dead in her
Philadelphia apartment by her fiancee, Sam Goldberg during a severe snowstorm,
and autopsy revealed that she had sustained twenty stab wounds
across her body, including her neck, back, head, and heart,

(00:45):
alongside bruises in various stages of healing. A knife was
found lodged in her chest. Initially, doctor Marlon Osborne, the
assistant Medical examiner at the time, classified her death as
a homicide. However, this ruling was reversed weeks later following
discussions with the Philadelphia Police Department, which halted any criminal

(01:06):
inquiry into her potential murderer. Goldberg has never been considered
a suspect and has not faced any criminal charges. For
over fourteen years. Cindy and Josh Greenberg, Ellen's parents, have
tirelessly sought clarity regarding their daughter's untimely death. They engaged
prominent specialists who concluded that Ellen's injuries were inconsistent with

(01:27):
self harm, and a forensic neuropathologist who identified signs of
strangulation and suggested that Ellen's death was staged. The Greenbergs
have gathered over one hundred and sixty seven thousand signatures
urging the city to reopen the investigation. They also initiated
two lawsuits, one in twenty nineteen against the Philadelphia Medical

(01:47):
Examiner's office and doctor Osborne, and another in twenty twenty
two against the City of Philadelphia, former Chief Medical Examiner
Sam Gulino, and others, alleging that the investigation was so
severely mishandled that it constituted a cover up. On February three,
the Greenbergs reached a settlement regarding their lawsuits against the

(02:08):
City of Philadelphia and others, which included a financial compensation
and an agreement from city officials to reassess the ruling
on Greenberg's cause of death. In her final determination, the
medical examiner noted there was no DNA evidence found of
the fiancees on the knife, and no evidence suggested an
abusive relationship between the couple. She also reported no signs

(02:32):
of struggle that were evident at the scene. She said,
in part, taking all of this information into account, I
believe the manner of Ellen Greenberg's death is best categorized
as suicide. All opinions presented in this report are made
with a reasonable level of medical certainty. Nancy Grace has
covered this case from the beginning and has always maintained

(02:52):
her belief that this was not a suicide. Someone else
on the scene right from the beginning. One of the
first recips bonders. For more Here's crime Stories Holden Zapple.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Captain Carl Plfefferly says the call came into the firehouse
as a cardiac arrest unresponsive Code blue. Looking into the room,
Captain Carl could see Ellen Greenberg in the kitchen area
on the floor. There was a lot of blood on
her chest and a knife was still sticking out of
her chest. The captain notes that Ellen was exceedingly pale
and cold, while the room was very warm. The tips

(03:25):
of her fingers were starting to turn blue. Remembering other wounds,
the captain says there was a wound in her back
shoulder blade area. Perfeph Rely says to create that wound,
you would have to be double or triple jointed. The
captain said he was suspicious from the beginning. One of
the things that stays with former paramedic Captain Carl plifefferly
is the knife sticking out of Ellen Greenberg's chest. He

(03:46):
says he saw the knife when he first walks in
and sees her propped up against the cabinet. Captain Carl
says it was a very large knife and the question
was who else was here? Not could she have done
this by herself.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
Ellen's family's attorney size the report, calling it deeply flawed
and asserting that it relies on the distorted view of
Ellen's mental health while neglecting crucial evidence that contradicts the
suicidal narrative. He emphasized that the inconsistencies and unanswered questions
surrounding Ellen's death weren't a more thorough investigation. Nancy Grace

(04:20):
takes on this case yet again Tonight Crime Stories with
Nancy Grace as Nancy and her team of experts look
into the cause of death for Ellen Greenberg. Crime stories
can be found on Fox one Nancy's YouTube channel, or
download Crime Stories with Nancy Grace on your favorite podcasting
app or crime and Justice News. After this, police and

(04:48):
Alabama have put out an urgent message asking for the
public's help and locating a missing woman. The Covington County
Sheriff's Office is looking for Brandy Crouch, who was last
seen walking on US three thirty one close to Highway
eighteen in Florilla, Alabama. She was last seen in September
twenty twenty four. She is described as thirty six years old,

(05:11):
five seven weighing about one hundred and twenty five to
one hundred and thirty pounds. She was last seen walking
at US three three one near the rest area. Anyone
with valid information is asked to please call the Sheriff's
department at three three four four two eight two six
four one. Police say the woman has been missing for
a month now and they believe her to be in

(05:33):
danger again. Anyone with information regarding missing Brandy Crouch is
asked to call three three four four two eight two
six four one. For the latest crime in Justice news,
follow Crime Alert. Hourly update on your favorite podcasting app
with this crime alert. I'm Nicole Carton.