Serialously with Annie Elise – Episode 322

Title: Ellen Greenberg: Stabbed 20 Times, Ruled Suicide | Hulu’s Death in Apartment 603 Uncovers New Evidence
Release Date: September 29, 2025
Host: Annie Elise
Key Guests: Ellen’s parents Joshua and Sandy Greenberg, Family Investigator Tom Brennan, Additional sources (friends, experts)
Topic: Examining the ongoing controversy of Ellen Greenberg’s 2011 death, new evidence revealed in Hulu’s ‘Death in Apartment 603’, and recent developments in the case, including legal and forensic bombshells.

Episode Overview

This episode revisits the mysterious and deeply troubling death of Ellen Greenberg, a Philadelphia teacher who was found stabbed 20 times in her apartment in 2011. Initially ruled a suicide, Ellen’s case has since seen an extraordinary journey through multiple reversals, allegations of investigative failures, suspected corruption, and persistent advocacy by her parents. Recent developments include renewed public attention through Hulu’s documentary and a historic reversal by the former medical examiner, marking suicide as unlikely. Annie shares an original deep-dive episode featuring exclusive interviews with Ellen’s family, breaking down all the evolving twists, red flags, and chilling unanswered questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background: Who was Ellen Greenberg?

• Ellen, a 27-year-old first grade teacher in Philadelphia, was described by friends, colleagues, and family as vivacious, dedicated, and loving ([07:09]).
• Engaged to Sam Goldberg with a wedding planned for August 2011; seemed to have a bright future.

Quote — Ellen’s mother Sandy:
"She was enthusiastic with her children, with the teaching. She put a lot into it, but it came very naturally to her." (07:09)

2. Timeline of the Incident

• January 26, 2011:
  • Morning: Ellen goes to work, calls her mom as usual ([06:53]).
  • Afternoon: Blizzard hits; leaves work early (08:02).
  • Returns home ~1:30pm after stopping for gas.
  • Around 2:30pm, calls a nearby restaurant (unclear reason).
  • 3:47pm: Sends a text from her phone.
  • 4:45pm: Computer activity.
  • 4:50pm: Fiance Sam leaves to work out in the building’s gym.
  • 5:26pm: Sam leaves the gym, returns to the apartment.
  • 5:30pm: Sam tries to access apartment, door is locked from the inside with a swing bar latch.
  • Sam tries for ~22 minutes to get in—calls, knocks, texts aggressively.
  • 6:14pm: Sam calls his cousin (a lawyer).
  • 6:26pm: Cousin’s father (also a lawyer) calls Sam.
  • 6:28pm: Sam seen on elevator camera returning to the 6th floor ([12:42]).
  • 6:31pm: 911 call placed.
  • 6:34pm: Sam’s cousin arrives at apartment.
  • 6:40pm: Ellen pronounced dead by EMS.

Quote — Annie on Sam’s texts:
"These messages read, 'Hello, open the door. What are you doing? You better have an excuse. I'm getting pissed.'" (09:41)

3. Crime Scene & Initial Investigation

• Ellen is found in the kitchen, lying in a pool of blood, a knife plunged in her chest ([13:00]).
• She had been stabbed 20 times: chest, head, neck, back, with one wound penetrating her brain ([17:44]).
• 11 bruises, different healing stages, on arms, abdomen, leg.
• No signs of forced entry, struggle, or theft; valuables in plain sight.
• Swing bar lock only accessible from inside makes suicide seem plausible—BUT...

4. Botched Investigation & Changing Rulings

• Initial police treat as suicide, citing lack of forced entry and defensive wounds ([22:39]).
• Medical examiner first rules homicide, then reverses to suicide after a meeting with police, DA, and coroner.
• Official reason for suicide: Ellen was seeing a psychiatrist and on Klonopin and Ambien (which can have suicidal ideation as side effects).
• Family and outside forensic experts totally disagree, finding wounds (especially those to neck/back) to be nearly impossible for self-infliction.
• Crucial mistakes: First responders never questioned, forensics on computer/phone never performed, blood spatter ignored, crime scene cleaned before complete investigation ([32:59], [39:11]).
• Chain of custody broken: Fiance’s uncle (a judge) and cousin (a lawyer) entered the scene and removed Ellen’s devices, keys, wallet.

Quote — Josh Greenberg, Ellen’s father:
"Her door was locked from the inside. This is all what we've been told. There was never really an investigation to clearly illustrate any of this." (39:15)

Quote — Annie:
"The first responders… declared Ellen as dead… were never even questioned." (25:03)

5. Red Flags & Theories

• The Fruit Salad: Ellen made herself lunch but never ate it; meal remained uneaten above her body—a detail that contradicts the logic of suicide ([31:47]).
• Bruises: 11 bruises, different ages, suggesting possible ongoing abuse.
• No Motive for Suicide: No note, preparing for future (wedding save-the-dates sent days before), talking with mom as usual, went to fill up her gas tank.
• Unanswered Questions About Fiance Sam:
  • Aggressive texts and calls.
  • Access to locked apartment.
  • Family’s powerful legal connections (uncle/judge, cousin/lawyer).
  • Did not demonstrate physical struggle/injury himself (no blood, no cuts).
  • He has never spoken publicly or responded to media ([49:54]).

Quote — Domestic violence expert Barry Goldstein:
"You better have an excuse’… that's the tone I’m getting and that's really the essence of coercive control." (49:54)

6. Family’s Fight & Legal Battles

• Greenbergs hire private investigators, world-class forensic pathologists—all conclude suicide is not plausible ([34:41]).
• Bring civil suit against the medical examiner, DA, and City.
• New tech (3D photogrammetry) recreates wounds: not all could be self-inflicted ([34:41]).
• 2019: Media exposés (Philadelphia Enquirer, Court TV, etc.) bring renewed attention.
• 2020: Case briefly reopened due to public pressure and new expert testimony showing wounds were post-mortem.
• As of Feb 2025: Former Philadelphia medical examiner publicly reverses opinion: now says Ellen was killed, not self-inflicted ([03:46]).
• Case currently before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (late 2025) following appeals on flawed investigation and medical examiner’s office decisions ([61:53]).

Quote — Ellen’s parents:
"We're very appreciative... Every step forward, they trip us so we go back two steps. There's been no cooperation, no information… It's always, she committed suicide. We can prove it. And they can't prove it." (62:43)

7. Allegations of Corruption & Conflicts of Interest

• Sam's family has legal and political influence in Philadelphia.
• Some speculate Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s connections to the Goldberg family influenced his refusal to reopen the case (unsubstantiated, but publicly debated) ([55:30],[56:54]).
• Removal of evidence by Sam’s uncle and cousin has “forever tainted chain of custody.”
• Friends and family, as well as crowdsourced petitions, pushing for case to be classified as “undecided” or “homicide.”
• Multiple guests and hosts question how so many investigative protocols could have been overlooked or deliberately manipulated.

8. Personal Impact & What’s Next

• Family expresses pain, frustration, and loss, but remains steadfast in advocacy ([64:54]).
• Ongoing hope: Impartial reinvestigation and reclassification, if not prosecution.
• The case remains unsolved in the eyes of many, despite legal hurdles.

Quote — Annie Elise:
"Homicide detectives hate to admit it, but there is a way to get away with murder: make it look like a suicide. And what's worse is, it's almost impossible for victims' families to legally challenge a manner of death ruling by a medical examiner." (65:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |---------------|-------------------|------------------| | 07:09 | Sandy Greenberg | "She was enthusiastic with her children… she loved her career. She put a lot into it, but it came naturally… she could bring all her friends together." | | 13:00 | Annie | "He found inside was his worst nightmare. Ellen, just 27, lying in a pool of blood, knife in her chest." | | 14:17 | 911 Call (Sam) | "I just went downstairs to work out…I came back up, the door was latched…there's a knife sticking out of her heart." | | 31:47 | Annie | "...in all the cases that I’ve covered, I have never seen or heard of somebody making a meal before taking their own life and not eating the meal." | | 34:06 | Greenbergs | "She was afraid of pain and she was afraid of blood…there may have been more than one knife involved, more than one person…" | | 39:15 | Tom Brennan | "If you look at the timeline from the 26th of January through the 28th of January, it totally discredits any good basic police work at all." | | 49:54 | Barry Goldstein | "'You better have an excuse'…that's the tone I'm getting, that's really the essence of coercive control." | | 61:53 | Greenbergs | "It's a journey that's continuously uphill…no cooperation…It's always, she committed suicide. We can prove it. And they can't prove it." | | 64:54 | Greenbergs | "What we’re doing is, we’re doing for Ellen." |

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:46] – New evidence and reversal by former medical examiner
• [07:09] – Ellen’s background and family testimony
• [08:02]–[14:17] – Full timeline and Sam’s account, 911 call
• [17:44]–[21:42] – Initial investigation, wounds, lack of forced entry
• [25:03]–[39:15] – Forensic breakdown, family and investigators’ testimony, chain of custody issues
• [49:54] – Red flags in Sam’s behavior and communications
• [55:30]–[58:49] – Corruption, conflict of interest, attorney general involvement
• [61:53]–[66:25] – Supreme court appeal, family’s reflections

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

• Ongoing debate: Could anyone self-inflict 20 stab wounds, with many in the back, and with no clear evidence of suicidal intent?
• Thorough forensic reviews and consensus of independent experts challenge official suicide ruling.
• Legal system slow to act; numerous appeals and family-driven investigations continue to keep the case in the spotlight.
• Community and true crime advocates encouraged to maintain focus and demand accountability for Ellen Greenberg.
• Annie implores listeners to consider the facts, form their own opinions, and support the push for an impartial investigation.

Host’s Call to Action

Annie Elise:
"Let’s continue to hope she gets the justice she deserves. I am curious to know…do you think that Ellen took her own life, or do you think she was murdered?" (66:25)

For more on the case, listeners are directed to the Hulu docuseries ‘Death in Apartment 603’ and the ongoing legal battle in Pennsylvania’s highest courts. The Greenbergs maintain a petition for renewed investigation.

Note: This summary does not include advertisements, promotional spots, or unrelated segments, staying focused only on content relevant to the Ellen Greenberg case.