According to Daily Mail, Ellen Greenberg's fiancé Samuel Goldberg sent nine increasingly urgent text messages over 22 minutes while she lay dead with 20 stab wounds in their apartment kitchen during a blizzard.

The case has drawn renewed scrutiny after investigators uncovered a detailed timeline of events leading up to Greenberg's death, including her last outgoing text messages to a friend about work-related stress around 3:40 PM that day.

The controversial ruling of suicide, despite multiple stab wounds, including one that pierced her heart, has led to years of legal battles by her parents seeking to change the manner of death classification.

Disturbing Series of Final Communications

Goldberg's text messages grew increasingly frustrated as he claimed to be locked out of their shared apartment. The messages progressed from "Hello" and "open the door" to more aggressive statements like "you better have an excuse" and "u have no idea." Phone records revealed an unusual gap in both Greenberg's and Goldberg's communications between 3:40 PM and 5:30 PM on the day she died.

Surveillance footage captured Goldberg's movements throughout the building that afternoon. He was seen heading to the gym at 4:50 PM and later checking his mail at 5:26 PM before discovering he was locked out of the apartment. When questioned about his delayed forceful entry, Goldberg explained he initially assumed Greenberg was showering, working with headphones on, or napping.

The timeline shows Goldberg contacted both his mother-in-law and two attorney relatives before finally forcing entry into the apartment at 6:29 PM. Discrepancies emerged between surveillance footage, phone records, and accounts provided by his relatives regarding the sequence of events.

Medical Evidence Points to Foul Play

The nature and extent of Greenberg's injuries have raised significant doubts about the suicide ruling. She sustained 20 stab wounds - ten to her neck and head area and ten more to her torso. A 10-inch knife remained lodged in her heart, having severed her aorta and pierced her liver.

Dr. Wayne Ross, an outside pathologist consulted by the Greenberg family, identified potential evidence of strangulation that wasn't noted in the original autopsy report. The absence of defensive wounds on Greenberg's hands led Ross to suggest she may have been rendered unconscious before being stabbed. This finding contradicted the initial investigation's conclusions.

The original medical examiner, Marlon Osbourne, initially classified the death as a homicide but later changed the ruling to suicide after meeting with police and prosecutors. This controversial reversal has become a central point of contention in the family's ongoing legal battle.

Legal Battle Gains Momentum

Joshua and Sandee Greenberg's tireless pursuit of justice has resulted in significant developments. After spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on independent investigations and legal proceedings, they achieved a breakthrough in July when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to hear their appeal.

The Greenbergs filed a second lawsuit in October 2022, alleging a coordinated cover-up by law enforcement and medical officials. They claim police mishandled crucial evidence, including allowing Goldberg's family unsupervised access to the crime scene and failing to properly document potential evidence.

Their legal team has assembled a comprehensive case challenging the suicide ruling, supported by findings from multiple forensic experts. The investigation continues to reveal new details that question the original conclusions about Ellen Greenberg's death.

Lessons to Learn From This Tragedy

1. Always maintain open communication with loved ones and authorities when sensing any danger or unusual behavior.
2. Understand the importance of digital footprints; regularly reviewing and preserving text messages and emails can sometimes provide crucial evidence in inexplicable situations.
3. Encourage community awareness and education on recognizing signs of distress or potential harm among acquaintances.

It’s vital to acknowledge that despite taking all precautionary steps, crime can still occur, and it's important to not blame victims for the tragedies that befall them.

Why This Story Matters

The shock and complexity of this case underscore a crucial societal issue: the interpretation of suicide and the investigation of potential foul play. It serves as a grim reminder of the need for vigilance and thoroughness in forensic assessments. This story matters because it urges a collective reflection on our understanding of tragic deaths and challenges our trust in immediate appearances.

Case Status and Next Steps

The suspicious death of Ellen Greenberg remains unresolved after 13 years of investigation and legal proceedings. Her parents' persistent efforts to change the manner of death classification from suicide to homicide or undetermined have reached a critical juncture with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision to hear their appeal.

The case has grown to encompass allegations of investigative misconduct, with the Greenbergs' lawsuit claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress by various officials involved in the original investigation. Their legal team continues to uncover new evidence and challenge the official narrative of their daughter's death.