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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

SHOCK TWIST IN MYSTERY DEATH OF BRIDE-TO-BE AFTER SHE'S VICIOUSLY STABBED 20 TIMES, BIZARRELY RULED SUICIDE

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

True Crime, News

4.28.1K Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2024

⏱️ 41 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ellen Greenberg was found stabbed to death in her apartment, with at least 20 stab wounds. She was stabbed in the back of the neck and head, and the final wound was a stab to the chest, with the knife left embedded there.

Her death was initially ruled a homicide by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner. However, police disagreed and publicly challenged the medical examiner's findings. Months later, Medical Examiner Marlon Osbourne, without warning or explanation, reclassified the death as a suicide.

Since then, Greenberg’s parents have fought to have her death ruled a homicide or inconclusive, only to learn that Pennsylvania state law allows a "medical examiner to be wrong as to the manner of death but cannot be compelled to change it."

The Chester County District Attorney's office announced it could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred in Ellen Greenberg’s death. As a result, the investigation is now considered "inactive." The DA’s office said detectives reviewed prior investigations conducted by the Philadelphia Police and the Attorney General's office, interviewed new witnesses, and consulted with an independent forensic expert.

A spokesperson for the DA's office explained, “This standard of proof—beyond a reasonable doubt—makes the criminal investigation different from other legal matters surrounding Ms. Greenberg’s death."

The Chester County DA's decision to move the investigation to "inactive" status does not change the fact that there is no statute of limitations for criminal homicide in Pennsylvania, and the case is not being closed. It will remain "open and inactive."

Joining Nancy Grace Today: 

  • Sandee & Josh Greenberg - Ellen Greenberg's Parents, Twitter: @justice4ellentw, Facebook: @justice4ellenFB, GoFundMe:www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-ellen?fbclid=IwAR1kH2pxp0jWpWBFD6tX9JfiWGCE-sKf9VrSGmjAltcz-g81mY7hVhqOcGo,  on Facebook: #Justice For Ellen
  • Matthew Mangino – Attorney, Former District Attorney (Lawrence County); Author: “The Executioner’s Toll: The Crimes, Arrests, Trials, Appeals, Last Meals, Final Words and Executions of 46 Persons in the United States;” X: @MatthewTMangino
  • Tom Brennan - PI Consultant for Ellen Greenberg's Family
  • Benee Knauer – Author of “What Happened To Ellen?: An American Miscarriage of Justice”
  • Joseph Scott Morgan – Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, “Blood Beneath My Feet,” and Host: “Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;” Twitter/X: @JoScottForensic
  • John Luciew [pronounced Lucy]- (Harrisburg, Pa) Journalist for PennLive.com and The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa. (specializes in true crime and cold case investigations for PennLive.com); Author: “Kill the Story;” X @JohnLuciew

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace.

0:06.0

A shock twist in the mystery death of a bride to be, a beautiful young first grade

0:13.2

teacher, bride to be, after she's viciously stabbed 20 times, at least 20 times, including in the back of the neck, the back of the head.

0:25.9

And it's bizarrely ruled a suicide.

0:31.2

I'm Nancy Grace.

0:32.3

This is crime stories.

0:33.7

Thank you for being with us.

0:35.2

The parents of a young teacher stabbed 20 times and ruled a suicide are hit with more devastating news.

0:45.4

When the district attorney's office places their daughter's case into inactive status.

0:52.6

In another blow to Josh and Sandy Greenberg's ongoing efforts to find justice for their daughter

0:58.0

Ellen Greenberg, the Chester County District Attorney's Office announces that they cannot prove

1:02.6

beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed when their daughter Ellen Greenberg

1:06.8

died from 20 knife wounds to the back of her head, neck, and chest. Due to this, the investigation

1:11.9

into the death of Ellen Greenberg is now placed as inactive. Did I mention the bruising all

1:18.1

across her body? Did I mention the bruising along her strap muscle, classic size of strangulation?

1:27.2

So, wait, let me understand. She wasn't just stabbed dead at least

1:31.5

29 times. I believe some of those stab wounds were overlapping. I think she could have been

1:36.8

stabbed more than 20 times, but I'll go with 20. 20 times, including a slice that cut the dura of her spine, her spinal cord.

1:49.2

She did that to herself.

1:50.3

Are you kidding me?

1:51.9

Bruising about the net, even little fingernail marks around her neck so she not only stabbed

1:57.8

herself, but she also strangled herself.

...

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