The Friend Zone – "Apartment 603" (Oct 22, 2025)

Hosts: Dustin Ross, Hey Fran Hey (Francesca), and Asante
Theme: Exploring the Ellen Greenberg Case: “Death in Apartment 603” (Crime Zone Series)

Episode Overview

This week, The Friend Zone continues its annual "Crime Zone" October series with Fran leading a deeply detailed exploration of the suspicious death of Ellen Greenberg, subject of the Hulu docuseries Death in Apartment 603. The hosts dissect the facts, institutional failures, alleged corruption, and the heartbreaking aftermath for Ellen’s family, while intertwining personal insights and relatable humor. Alongside this heavy case, the crew checks in with listener comments, culture news, wellness, music, and TV recommendations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. [00:44–12:04] Opening: Buzzy Banter & Announcements

• The trio checks in about their weekends, the impact of seasonal gloom, and the importance of socializing for mental health (even “clubbing” at an older age).
• Black business highlight: Son of James LA – innovative fitted hats and jeans by designer Jameson.

“The findings of the post said that it’s healthy … to be outside and socializing and at the club up until the age of 69.”
—Francesca, [08:20]

2. [12:04–31:35] Listener Feedback & Community Recap

• Reactions to last week’s heavy conversation, nostalgia around D’Angelo’s passing, and tips on battling Portland’s squirrels and sleep problems.
• Notable listener stories include ancestry surprises, field hockey, and sleep studies.
• Commentary on selling plasma, egg donation, family ties, and the strange realities of adulting.

“Something to consider. We getting up there. These are such adult conversations…”
—Francesca, [23:42]

3. [31:35–126:16] Crime Zone Deep Dive: The Ellen Greenberg Case (Main Segment)

Background & Context

• Ellen Greenberg: A young teacher from a tight-knit Jewish family; lively, intelligent, living in Philadelphia with fiancé Sam.
• Engaged after a three-year relationship, but friends/family note a change in her demeanor once the wedding planning begins.

The Day of the Incident

• Jan 26, 2011: Heavy snowstorm; Ellen leaves school stressed (report cards due, heavy workload).
• Sam, her fiancé, leaves the apartment to use the building gym—returns less than an hour later to find the apartment door latched from the inside. Unable to reach Ellen, he gets frustrated, seeks help from the concierge, and eventually breaks down the door.
• Ellen is found on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood, knife in her chest. Sam calls 911.

Investigative Failures & Suspicions

• Police immediately accept Sam’s account (points to a suicide), do not preserve the scene, and cancel forensic workup.
• Concerns:
  • 20 stab wounds (many in the back, one severs her spinal cord).
  • Crime scene cleaned before thorough investigation; key evidence (laptop/phone) taken by Sam’s attorney uncle.
  • Medical examiner briefly rules it homicide, then reverses decision after a suspicious off-record meeting with police.
• Institutional Corruption:
  • Political connections and “too busy” homicide division cited for mishandling.
  • Media attention via The Philadelphia Inquirer and online sleuths.
  • Family’s civil lawsuit and years-long fight for justice.
  • Continued official insistence (even after public scrutiny) that it was suicide, despite mounting contrary evidence.

Cultural Commentary

• The hosts unpack themes of gaslighting, the power of family connections, disparities in medical/legal processes, and the chilling reality that the system can so completely fail.
• Parallels drawn to ongoing social justice struggles and distrust of public institutions.

“At no point did it cross anybody’s mind, hey, he could have killed her? That never crossed nobody’s mind?”
—Dustin Ross, [79:32]

“[Medical examiner] settles out and agreed that it wasn’t the right determination. But even with him settling out … we still have gotten nowhere.”
—Francesca, [119:14]

“You’re powerless at that point, and somebody’s life is on the line.”
—Dustin Ross, [119:58]

4. [126:16–134:22] Wellness Highlight: Black Girls Can, Inc.

• Fran spotlights Kenesha Dennis and Black Girls Can, Inc., celebrating 10 years of STEM/wellness empowerment for Black girls in NYC and DC.
• Upcoming "Pathway to Power" school tour to address the youth mental health crisis.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Greenberg Case:

  “The killer is talking to us.”
  —Dustin Ross, [79:47]

  “How does a person that was a part of the situation just get to tell the police what it is? … The police just took his word for it.”
  —Francesca, [75:28]

  “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
  —Judge (reading from the hearing), [108:43]

• Listener Segment:

  “I love these very niche adult conversations, because so many of you wrote in like, ‘Yo, I have no one to talk about this with…’”
  —Francesca, [23:42]

• Music & TV Banter:

  • Three recs: D’Angelo’s “One Mo’gin”, Olivia Dean’s “Let Alone the One You Love”, new Mobb Deep ft. Nas and H.E.R.
  • Dustin and Asante highlight T-Pain’s “People” remix, Yseult’s industry battle with K-pop copycats, and the routine of “club husbands”.

“If this wasn’t such a serious episode, as far as the case, I would name this ‘vigorous ass shaking’.”
—Francesca, [175:06]

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:44 – Episode intro, mental health and socializing
10:29 – Black Business of the Week
12:04 – Listener Feedback, Sleep Studies, Field Hockey, Ancestry Discoveries
31:35 – Crime Zone: The Ellen Greenberg Case
79:06 – Medical examiner process explained
88:45 – Discovery of the 20 stab wounds
102:12 – Family’s ongoing fight, legal setbacks, media impact
126:16 – Wellness: Black Girls Can, Inc.
142:33 – Music Segment: D’Angelo, Olivia Dean, Mobb Deep, T-Pain
177:26 – TV Corner: Baddies Africa, Real Housewives of Potomac, Love Is Blind, Reasonable Doubt
183:40 – Closing & next week’s preview

Episode Tone

• The tone is profoundly engaged, empathetic, occasionally irreverent, and always community-oriented—with each host bringing warmth and sharp critique even as they process the weighty subject matter of the Greenberg case. Humor and pop culture check-ins provide much-needed relief amidst the heaviness of institutional injustice.

Useful Takeaways

• Systemic Injustice: Even overwhelming physical evidence can be steamrolled by connections and bureaucracy.
• Mental Health Nuance: Use of mental health crises as an easy explanation for unexplained deaths is still prevalent—and dangerous.
• Community Power: Voices in the media, public, and online can keep cases like Ellen’s alive, even if justice is delayed.
• Listener Connection: The show’s willingness to detour into relatable, adult-life topics (like mattress shopping, field hockey, or internet ancestry shocks) fosters a loyal following.

Further Exploration

• Watch Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg (Hulu)
• Support Black Girls Can, Inc.'s Pathway to Power Tour
• Stream music from featured artists: D’Angelo, Olivia Dean, Mobb Deep, T-Pain, Yseult

“Do what you can, how you can. That’s all. That’s the only thing we can say. And like I said, God bless that girl.”
—Dustin Ross, [125:53]