Episode 381 - Ellen Greenberg Part 1: “You’ve Got A Murder Up There”
Jan 9, 2025
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A chilling mystery unfolds as the controversial death of Ellen Greenberg, a young teacher, is examined. Despite multiple stab wounds, authorities insist it was suicide, sparking outrage over police mishandling and potential corruption. The podcast dives into the frantic moments before her death and the relentless fight for justice by her family. Key figures involved in the investigation raise eyebrows, with experts challenging the initial conclusions. The case highlights the struggle against systemic failures that have left many questions unanswered.
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Quick takeaways
Ellen Greenberg's death was initially ruled a suicide despite overwhelming evidence suggesting it was a violent homicide, raising serious investigative concerns.
The flawed investigative process highlighted a lack of thorough examination, with crucial details and evidence being overlooked by authorities.
The involvement of Sam Goldberg's family connections has cast doubt on the integrity of the investigation, potentially shielding him from accountability.
Deep dives
The Mysterious Death of Ellie Greenberg
In January 2011, Ellie Greenberg, a young teacher in Philadelphia, was found dead in her apartment, having been stabbed multiple times. Despite clear signs of violence, the police quickly ruled her death a suicide, citing the locked door and a lack of immediate evidence for a break-in. This conclusion faced intense scrutiny as Ellie had been battling anxiety and was engaged to a man who later showed questionable behavior in recounting the events leading up to her death. Public perceptions regarding the nature of her death would become deeply divided, particularly as her family continued to push for a re-examination of the evidence.
Controversial Police Investigation
The investigative process surrounding Ellie's death has been criticized as fundamentally flawed, with police prematurely declaring the case a suicide without thorough examination. After her initial autopsy, which indicated homicide, crucial details were overlooked, including the collection and handling of evidence at the crime scene. The initial investigator failed to notice significant stab wounds, raising questions about the attention given to the case. With mounting public pressure, concerns about possible corruption within the Philadelphia Police Department also emerged, suggesting that privileged connections might have influenced the handling of Ellie's case.
Unraveling the Event Timeline
Sam Goldberg's actions leading up to the discovery of Ellie's body raised additional suspicions regarding the nature of her death. He reportedly called his cousin, a lawyer, immediately after being locked out of the apartment, suggesting a level of premeditation on his part. Detailed comparisons of call logs and surveillance footage have called into question Sam's timeline, as he seemed to position himself as a victim rather than an involved party. Discrepancies in his statements about the condition of Ellie's body when he supposedly discovered her further complicated the narrative surrounding her death.
The Role of Influential Connections
Sam Goldberg's family, notably his uncle who has significant legal and political connections, introduced another layer of complexity to the investigation into Ellie Greenberg's death. Critics argue that these connections may have unduly influenced the police's response, urging them to treat the situation with a bias favoring Sam. The intervention of his family, particularly a lawyer in the wake of Ellie's death, has led to allegations of a cover-up and manipulation of evidence. This dynamic has prompted ongoing skepticism regarding the integrity of the investigation and the pursuit of justice for Ellie.
Continued Fight for Justice
Despite the initial ruling of suicide, Ellie's family has continued to advocate for a thorough investigation into her death, accumulating considerable resources to pursue the case legally. They have engaged various experts, highlighting inconsistencies in the autopsy and the handling of evidence, which supported the theory of homicide rather than suicide. Reports from renowned forensic professionals have challenged the medical examiner's earlier conclusions and emphasized the significance of Ellie's multiple stab wounds. The family's efforts underscore a broader narrative of the struggle for justice in cases where systemic failures may obstruct the truth.
If you believe the official report, Ellen Greenberg stabbed herself: at least 20 times in the back, neck, stomach, chest, and through her scalp, hard enough to pierce her own brain. And only after all that – say the authorities – did she plunge the knife four inches into her own stomach.
In 2011, despite blindingly obvious evidence to the contrary, Philadelphia’s police ruled the 27-year-old schoolteacher’s death as a suicide. And – thanks to a few suspicious decisions and the very shoddiest of shoddy police work – almost every chance of ever securing justice for Ellen was quite literally scrubbed away.