A medical examiner who said the 2011 death of a Philadelphia teacher found with 20 stabs wounds was a homicide — then reversed himself to say suicide — now admits the case is something “other than suicide.’’
For more than a decade, the family of Ellen Greenberg, 27, has fought to overturn the city ME’s ruling that the death of their daughter, whose body was found riddled with stab wounds — including 10 to the back of her head and neck — was suicide.
Philadelphia Medical Examiner Marlon Osbourne initially ruled Greenberg’s death a homicide because of the large number of stab wounds, but when police challenged his finding, the ME switched his ruling to suicide without an explanation.
Osbourne has now changed course again, writing in a statement filed Saturday, “It is my professional opinion Ellen’s manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide,” WPVI reported.
His comments come as one of two civil cases filed by Greenberg’s parents accusing the city of emotional distress for allegedly mishandling Ellen’s death investigation and covering it up goes to trial Monday.
Osbourne said his latest determination was made after new information related to the case came to light.
“For example, whether Ellen’s fiancé was witnessed entering the apartment before placing the 9-1-1 call on January 26, 2011; whether the door was forced open as reported; whether Ellen’s body was moved by someone else inside the apartment with her at or near the time of her death,” Osbourne wrote.
Greenberg’s fiancé has never been suspected by authorities of foul play.
The filing comes as a judge ruled that Osbourne must testify at a trial alongside another medical examiner, Sam Gulino, and homicide Detective John McNamee, who were involved in the case.
It also comes as Greenberg’s parents, Josh and Sandee Greenberg, have fought for years to have the suicide ruling changed back to homicide or undetermined.
