Outside prosecutors say they cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed in the region case of Ellen Greenberg, a Philadelphia educator who died in 2011. It was a case her parents had long fought to have be ruled a murder, but was instead ruled a suicide.
In a news release, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said the case was placed in an inactive status. The agency handled the case due to conflicts within Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania AG’s office.
Chester County detectives reviewed previous investigations by the Philadelphia Police Department and the AG’s office, conducted new interviews and consulted with an independent forensic expert, among other investigative steps.
“There is no statute of limitations for criminal homicide in Pennsylvania, and because investigations may take new directions, we are not closing the case,” the office said in a news release.
Greenberg, 27, taught at Juniata Park Academy and lived in Manayunk with her fiancé. According to court records, Greenberg’s fiancée was at the gym and when he returned, he discovered the apartment door was stuck.
After trying to reach Greenberg for more than an hour, he broke open the door and saw her death in the apartment with more than twenty stab wounds. Medical examiner records show she was stabbed in the head, neck and chest.
A neuropathologist hired by the city of Philadelphia once testified that Greenberg was likely not alive when at least one of the stab wounds was inflicted. Joe Podraza, an attorney working with Greenberg’s parents, has said this likely means the wound was inflicted after Ellen was dead.
Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments from Greenberg’s family on whether the administrators of a deceased person’s estate have standing to challenge the finding on a death certificate.
Podraza has said what’s on the death certificate matters because it can affect whether someone can collect damages from the victim, receive compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit or file a criminal complaint.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office reviewed the case in 2019 and ruled the death a suicide, and in 2022 the office under then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro ruled the case a suicide. reaffirmed that ruling after re-examining the case between December 2021 and January 2022.
More than 160,000 people signed a petition on Change.org asking for Greenberg’s death certificate to be changed.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
For more information about mental health resources and support, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine is available Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 10 PM ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), by calling texting “HelpLine” to 62640, or by sending an email to helpline@nami.org.
