Search for Clues to History’s Unsolved Murders at Newspapers.com
Hunt A Killer Banner, Date Night

Ellen Rae Greenberg

Ellen Rae Greenberg

Ellen Greenberg was a 27-year-old first grade teacher at Juniata Park Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At approximately 6:40 p.m. on January 26, 2011, Ellen was pronounced dead as a result of twenty stab wounds, including ten to the back of her head and neck. In addition, there were eleven bruises in various stages of resolution on her right arm, abdomen, and right leg. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, the Medical Examiner, Dr. Marlon Osbourne, ruled her death a suicide. He later admitted that he had originally planned on ruling the manner of death either a homicide or undetermined, but changed it to suicide at the insistence of the police.

Justice for Ellen GoFundMe Page
Sign the Justice for Ellen petition.

Date:

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Crime:
Suspected Homicide
Location:

Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA

Age:

27

Occupation:

School Teacher

YouTube Videos

Photos

Crime Scene Photos

Autopsy Model Photos

Case Documents

Image

Internet Search Terms from Ellen’s Computer

12/18/2010 - 1/10/2011
Image

Medical Examiner’s Office Investigation Report

~1/26/2011
Image

Report of Death Investigation, Detective Sierra 9103

1/26/2011
Image

Medical Examiner’s Office Autopsy Report, Draft (Homicide)

1/27/2011
Image

Search Warrant

1/27/2011
Image

Death Certificate

1/28/2011
Image

Philadelphia PD Property Receipt

1/29/2011
Image

Medical Examiner’s Office Toxicology Report

2/8/2011
Image

Medical Examiner’s Office Autopsy Report

2/18/2011
Image

Amended Death Certificate

4/4/2011
Image

Opinion and Report by Cyril Wecht, MD, JD

1/11/2012
Image

Written Reprimand of Marlon Osbourne, MD

7/24/2012
Image

Written Reprimand of Marlon Osbourne, MD

8/31/2012
Image

Written Reprimand of Marlon Osbourne, MD

12/16/2013
Image

Opinion by Wayne K. Ross, MD

10/18/2016
Image

Opinion by Wayne K. Ross, MD

1/10/2017
Image

Report by Consulting Detective Scott Eelman

4/14/2017
Image

Report by Henry C. Lee, PhD and Elaine M. Pagliaro, MS, JD

1/29/2018
Image

Email from Lucy Rourke-Adams to Stephanie Farr

7/12/2018
Image

PA Attorney General Statement to Stephanie Farr

3/8/2019
Image

Thomas P Brennan Equivocal Death Analysis

5/1/2019
Image

Letter from Joe Podraza to Sam Gulino, MD

6/19/2019
Image

Neuropathology Examination Notes by Lyndsey Emery, MD, PhD

8/29/2019
Image

Letter from Joe Podraza to Marlon Osbourne

9/3/2019
Image

Report from Lewis Lazarus, PhD

9/20/2019
Image

Email from Joe Podraza to Ellen Berkowitz

8/13/2020
Image

Email from Ellen Berkowitz to Joseph Podraza and William Trask

1/25/2021
Image

Deposition of Sam Gulino, MD

4/20/2021
Image

Deposition of Marlon Osbourne, MD

4/22/2021
Image

Letter from Ellen Berkowitz to Joe Podraza and William Trask

4/27/2021
Image

Email from Ellen Berkowitz to Joe Podraza and William Trask

5/4/2021
Image

Email from William Trask to Ellen Berkowitz and Joe Podraza

5/4/2021
Image

Deposition of Lyndsey Emery MD

5/11/2021
Image

BioMx Consulting Letter to Joe Podraza

5/12/2021
Image

Email from William Trask to Ellen Berkowitz and Joe Podraza

5/18/2021
Image

Email from Ellen Berkowitz to William Trask

5/20/2021
Image

Email from Ellen Berkowitz to Joe Podraza and William Trask

5/25/2021
Image

Report by Wayne K Ross, MD

6/1/2021
Image

Declaration of Lyndsey Emery MD, PhD

6/10/2021
Image

Declaration of Kirsten E. Heine

6/15/2021
Image

Email from Ellen Berkowitz to William Trask

6/21/2021
Image

Declaration of Philip Hanton

6/28/2021
Image

Declaration of Melissa Ware

7/1/2021

Court Documents -Greenberg et al vs. Osbourne et al

Image

Civil Complaint

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint Cover Sheet

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint Final

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit A

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit B

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit C

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit D

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit E

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit F

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit G

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit H

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit I

10/15/2019
Image

Complaint, Exhibit J

10/15/2019
Image

Praecipe to File Affidavit of Service

10/29/2019
Image

Praecipe to Reinstate Complaint

11/06/2019
Image

Praecipe for Entry of Appearance

11/12/2019
Image

Entry of Appearance

11/12/2019
Image

Defendants’ Preliminary Objections

11/12/2019
Image

Memo of Law in Support of Preliminary Objections to Plaintiffs’ Complaint

11/12/2019
Image

Praecipe to File Affidavit of Service

11/18/2019
Image

Plaintiff’s Memo of Law in Opposition to Defendants’ Preliminary Objections

12/3/2019
Image

Plaintiff’s Answer to Defendants’ Preliminary Objections

12/3/2019
Image

Order 14

1/7/2020
Image

Defendants’ Answer and New Matter to Plaintiffs’ Complaint

1/27/2020
Image

Case Management Order 19

1/27/2020
Image

Reply to Defendants’ New Matter

2/14/2020
Image

Motion for Extraordinary Relief

12/28/2020
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

12/28/2020
Image

Order 27

1/19/2021
Image

Revised Case Management Order 32

1/19/2021
Image

Motion for Extraordinary Relief

2/26/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

2/26/2021
Image

Order 38

3/19/2021
Image

Revised Case Management Order 39

3/19/2021
Image

Motion for Extraordinary Relief

4/21/2021
Image

Order 50

4/28/2021
Image

Proposed Revised Order

4/28/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

4/28/2021
Image

Motion to Compel Ware Video

6/4/2021
Image

Plaintiffs’ Motion to Compel

6/7/2021
Image

Revised Case Management Order 57

6/7/2021
Image

Praecipe for Contested Discovery Motion – Disciplinary Records

6/11/2021
Image

Praecipe for Contested Discovery Motion – Ware Video

6/11/2021
Image

Motion to Compel Ware Video, Defendants’ Exhibits

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement, Binder 1

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement, Binder 2

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement, Binder 3

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement, Binder 4

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement, Binder 5

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement, Binder 6

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement, Binder 7

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement, Binder 8

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion to Compel – Ware Video

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion to Compel – Disciplinary Records

6/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Exhibits in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion to Compel – Disciplinary Records

6/21/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

6/21/2021
Image

Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgement

7/2/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

7/2/2021
Image

Reply in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion to Compel Production of Disciplinary Records

7/6/2021
Image

Reply in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion to Compel Production of Ware Video

7/6/2021
Image

Plaintiffs Answer in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement

7/21/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

7/21/2021
Image

Defendants’ Reply Memorandum in Support of Motion for Summary Judgement

7/28/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

7/28/2021
Image

Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgement

8/2/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

8/2/2021
Image

Plaintiffs’ Reply Memorandum in Further Support of Motion for Summary Judgement

8/17/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

8/17/2021
Image

Letter 85

9/27/2021
Image

Order 87

10/21/2021
Image

Order 88

10/21/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

11/19/2021
Image

Defendant’s Motion to Amend an Interlocutory Order

11/19/2021
Image

Notice of Trial Attachment

11/22/2021
Image

Order 101

11/29/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

12/23/2021
Image

Motion for Stay of Trial

12/23/2021
Image

Exhibit A to Motion for Stay of Trial

12/23/2021
Image

Exhibit B to Motion for Stay of Trial

12/23/2021
Image

Order 108

12/23/2021
Image

Motion Cover Sheet

1/11/2022
Image

Opposition to Motion to Stay

1/11/2022
Image

Order 120

1/31/2022
Image

Order of the Appellate Court 122

2/4/2022
Image

Appellate Court Docket Sheet

4/13/2022
Image

Trial Court Opinion 126

6/8/2022

Court Documents -Greenberg et al vs. Gulino et al

Image

Civil Cover Sheet

6/15/2022
Image

Praecipe to Issue Writ of Summons

6/15/2022
Image

Writ of Summons

6/15/2022
Image

Attachment to Writ of Summons

6/15/2022
Image

Affidavit of Service, Sam Gulino

6/17/2022

Schwartzman/Goldberg Family Demand for Retraction

Image

Letter from Schwartzman Attorney to Gavin Fish, Demand for Retraction

8/1/2022
Image

Response Letter to Schwartzman Attorney re: Demand for Retraction

8/5/2022
Image

Response Letter from Fish Attorney to Schwartzman Attorney re: Demand for Retraction

8/19/2022
Image

Response Letter from Schwartzman Attorney to Fish Attorney re: Demand for Retraction

8/23/2022

Timeline

January 26, 20111:26 PM

Ellen Puts Gas in Her Car

Source: Confidential

January 26, 20112:30 PM

Ellen Calls Vetri Restaurant

It is unclear if she was calling to make, confirm, or cancel a reservation.
Source: Confidential

January 26, 20113:47 PM

Ellen Sends Her Final Text

Source: Confidential

January 26, 20114:46 PM

Last Activity on Ellen’s Computer

Source: Confidential

January 26, 20114:50 PM

Sam Goes to the Gym

Sam Goldberg enters the gym on the first floor of Venice Lofts Apartments
Source: Security Footage

January 26, 20115:26 PM

Sam Exits the Gym

Sam Goldberg exits the gym on the first floor of Venice Lofts Apartments
Source: Security Footage

January 26, 20116:14 PM

Sam Goldberg calls Kamian Schwartzman

Source: Confidential

January 26, 20116:26 PM

Sam Goldberg Answers a Phone Call from James Schwartzman

Source: Confidential

January 26, 20116:28 PM

Last Time Sam is Seen on Video

Sam Goldberg is last seen on the video provided by the Philadelphia Police Department.
Source: Security Footage

January 26, 2011~6:31 PM

Sam Goldberg Makes 911 Call

Source: Autopsy Report

January 26, 20116:33 PM

Emergency Responders are Dispatched to Ellen & Sam’s Apartment

Source: Autopsy Report, Video interview with Tom Brennan

January 26, 20116:34 PM

Kamian Schwartzman Arrives On-Scene

Source: Security Footage

January 26, 20116:36 PM

Emergency Responders Arrive On-Scene

Sam is present. Kamian Schwartzman is present. At some point his uncle, James C. Schwartzman, is present. Mr. Schwartzman is a former prosecutor, and at the time he was Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). He has been described as “politically important” in the city of Philadelphia. As of the time of this writing, he is the President Judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.

Source: Autopsy Report, Video interview with Tom Brennan

January 26, 20116:40 PM

Ellen Greenberg is Pronounced Dead

Source: Autopsy Report

January 26, 2011Sometime that evening

Sam Goldberg is taken in handcuffs to be Questioned by Police

Source: Video interview with Tom Brennan

January 26, 2011

Sam Goldberg Questioned by Police in the Presence of an Attorney

Source: Video interview with Tom Brennan

January 27, 2011Early morning hours

Ellen Greenberg is taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner

Medical Examiner’s Office investigator Stephen Olszewski stays on-scene to ensure that the knife in Ellen’s chest isn’t removed. He accompanies Ellen to the morgue.

Source: Video interview with Tom Brennan

January 27, 2011Beginning at 9:00 AM

Autopsy is Performed by Dr. Marlon Osbourne

Source: Autopsy Report

January 27, 2011

James C. Schwartzman Requests Access to Apartment

According to Melissa Ware, the apartment manager at the time, she is contacted by Mr. Schwartzman asking for her help entering the apartment in order to get a suit for Sam for Ellen’s funeral. Ms. Ware contacts the police to ask permission to let him enter. They tell her that the crime scene has been releases, so he may enter. They also tell her she can call Crime Scene Cleanup to clean-up the apartment.

Source: Declaration of Melissa Ware

January 27, 2011

Melissa Ware Creates a Video Record of the Apartment

In order to protect her employer, Ms. Ware makes a video recording of the state of the apartment prior to having the apartment cleaned.

Source: Declaration of Melissa Ware

January 27, 2011

James C. Schwartzman Removes Cell Phones, Laptops, and other Items from Apartment

Source: Thomas P Brennan Equivocal Death Analysis

January 27, 2011

Crime Scene Cleanup Cleans Apartment

Source: Declaration of Melissa Ware

January 27, 2011

Marlon Osbourne Creates Draft Autopsy Report, Finds Homicide

Source: Medical Examiner’s Office Autopsy Report, Draft (Homicide)

January 27, 2011

With Initial Finding of Homicide, Police Apply for Search Warrant

Source: Search Warrant

January 28, 201110:51 AM

Search Warrant Executed

Police sieze assorted clothing, blood samples, a diamond ring, latent prints, and a Rubber Maid container. Of course, this all happened after the crime scene was professionally cleaned.

Source: Search Warrant

January 29, 2011

Cell Phones and Laptops are Retrieved by Police from James C. Schwartzman

Source: Thomas P Brennan Equivocal Death Analysis

Venice Lofts Apartments Surveillance Footage

This is all the surveillance footage the Philadelphia Police Department would release to the Greenberg family. There are some people that I suspect were on-scene shortly after Ellen died. They are James Schwartzman, Sam Goldberg's uncle who is a prominent attorney in Philadelphia; Kamian Schwartzman, Sam Goldberg's cousin and close friend who is also James Schwartzman's son; Richard Goldberg, Sam Goldberg's father; and Mindy Goldberg, Sam Goldberg's mother.

It's possible that when they arrived, they were caught on camera. Please take some time, even if it's just a few minutes every couple of days, and watch these videos. Be on the lookout for the four people named above. If you think you spot one of them, use this Google Form to tell me about it.

Sam Goldberg can be seen in the "Camera 2, 3pm to 5pm" video entering the gym at about 4:54:37. He can be seen leaving the gym in the "Camera 2, 5pm to 7pm" video at about 5:30:15. He also shows up in the "Camera 3, 5pm to 7pm" video at about 5:30:33, 5:31:36, 6:10:24, 6:13:07, 6:25:15, and 6:32:40.

Image
James Schwartzman
Image
Kamian Schwartzman
Image
Richard Goldberg
Image
Mindy Goldberg
Image

James Schwartzman on far right. Kamian Schwartzman with hand on Sam Goldberg's shoulder. Richard Goldberg in purple tie third from left.

Image
Richard, Sam, & Mindy Goldberg