Just days after a federal investigation was reopened, Sam Goldberg, the former fiancé of Ellen Greenberg, was seen in New York City. Emerging from his Manhattan apartment – valued at $1.88 million and shared with his wife and children – Goldberg, 43, wore a black jacket, gray sweatpants, and a beanie, offering no comment to questions about the renewed scrutiny surrounding Greenberg’s death.
The case, which has haunted the Greenberg family for over a decade, centers on the 2011 death of 27-year-old Ellen Greenberg. She was discovered with twenty-three stab wounds, a scene Goldberg himself encountered when he forced entry into their locked apartment after she failed to respond.
Initially ruled a homicide, the manner of death was controversially changed to suicide by a medical examiner after discussions with Philadelphia Police. This reclassification ignited a firestorm of debate and fueled suspicions that the investigation was deeply flawed.
Ellen’s mother, Sandee Greenberg, expressed cautious optimism about the federal involvement. “It's very good news in that it takes things out of the state of Philadelphia, which we cannot trust, and places it in the hands of the federal government,” she stated, citing concerns about corruption and the need for an unbiased review.
The family’s long fight for answers has included a lawsuit against the city, alleging mishandling of the investigation. While Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court acknowledged errors were made, it ultimately dismissed the suit seeking to overturn the suicide ruling.
Last year, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office stood by its original determination, a devastating setback for the Greenbergs. However, the court itself conceded the investigation was “deeply flawed,” pointing to failures by the police department, district attorney’s office, and medical examiner.
Goldberg previously claimed he was unfairly portrayed following the release of a recent documentary that re-examined the case. He described the film as “awful” and “sucks,” but declined to elaborate, referencing his initial 911 call where he stated Greenberg “fell on a knife.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania recently requested all documents related to the case from Philadelphia authorities, signaling a serious and comprehensive review of the evidence. Fifteen years after Ellen Greenberg’s death, her family believes momentum is building, and that justice may finally be within reach.
Sandee Greenberg poignantly stated, “January 26 will be 15 years but we're gaining momentum and Ellen knows.” This statement underscores the family’s unwavering belief that the truth will ultimately prevail.
