Woman's Death From 20 Stab Wounds Was Ruled a Suicide. Now, Pathologist Admits He Was Wrong

Mar. 15, 2025

Ellen Greenberg.Photo: Facebook

The pathologist who ruledEllen Greenberg’s deatha homicide before switching his ruling to a suicide now says he was wrong.

Greenberg, a 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher, was found dead with 20 stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, head and the back of her neck in 2011.

Despite authorities ruling that Greenberg’s death was a suicide after saying only her DNA was found on the knife and her clothing, her parents have maintained the belief that their daughter was murdered.

Now, Marlon Osbourne, formerly of the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, says in a sworn statement that he should not have ruled Greenberg’s death a suicide, according to reports from thePhiladelphia InquirerandPennLive.

“[B]ased on my consideration of the new information brought to my attention after leaving my position as Medical Examiner for the City of Philadelphia, along with my original autopsy findings and information considered while I was actively involved in Ellen’s case,” Osbourne wrote in the reported statement, which is part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit involving Greenberg’s parents, “it is my professional opinion Ellen’s manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide.”

PEOPLE previously reported that Goldberg told police he was unable to get into the apartment because the swing bar lock was in use. He eventually forced his way into the residence, where he discovered Greenberg dead with a 10-inch knife in her chest.

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Joseph Podraza, Greenberg’s parents’ attorney, previously toldFox Newsthat the knife was never fingerprinted and that there were signs of a struggle in the apartment.

source: people.com