Blue city faces calls for corruption probe in teacher’s ‘suicide’ by 20 stab wounds case

For over a decade, the mysterious death of Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old Philadelphia teacher, has sparked widespread outrage and demands for justice. Greenberg was found dead in her apartment on January 26, 2011, with 20 stab wounds, including several inflicted from behind and at least one after her death. Despite the glaring inconsistencies in the case, the initial autopsy ruled her death a suicide—a conclusion that has been deeply contested by her family, investigators, and even some experts. Now, with the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, Dr. Marlon Osbourne, recently reversing his findings, the case has taken a dramatic turn. Greenberg’s parents, along with their private investigator, Tom Brennan, are calling for a federal corruption probe into Philadelphia’s handling of the case, accusing local officials—including Governor Josh Shapiro—of prioritizing politics over justice.

Tom Brennan, a former Pennsylvania state trooper and private investigator who has dedicated nearly a decade to uncovering the truth behind Greenberg’s death, has been vocal about the corruption he believes has marred the investigation. Brennan, who spent 25 years with the state police, including eight years as an undercover detective investigating white-collar crime in Philadelphia, has firsthand knowledge of the city’s corruption. “Don’t tell me about corruption in Philadelphia,” he said. “These people are foul. They are really foul.” Brennan has repeatedly slammed Governor Shapiro, then the state attorney general, for his handling of the case, which he claims was mishandled for political gain. Shapiro’s office took over the investigation after Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner recused himself, citing a conflict of interest. However, Brennan alleges that Shapiro’s office did little to advance the case, leaving Greenberg’s family in the dark for years.

The seed of suspicion in Greenberg’s death lies in the highly disputed autopsy findings. Dr. Marlon Osbourne, who initially ruled her death a homicide, changed his conclusion to suicide just days later after a closed-door meeting with police. Brennan and the Greenberg family have long questioned the circumstances of that meeting, as no record of who attended or what was discussed has been made public. This lack of transparency, combined with the brutal nature of Greenberg’s injuries—including stab wounds inflicted from behind and evidence of strangulation—has led many to believe that her death was not self-inflicted. An independent autopsy later revealed signs of manual strangulation, further casting doubt on the suicide ruling. Brennan has argued that the closed-door meeting alone warrants a federal corruption investigation, as it suggests potential interference in the autopsy process.

The case took another significant turn in July 2022 when independent journalist Gavin Fish alleged that Attorney General Shapiro had a clear conflict of interest. Fish pointed out that Greenberg’s fiancé’s family were among Shapiro’s campaign donors, raising ethical concerns about Shapiro’s involvement in the case. Just three days after Fish’s revelations, Shapiro announced his recusal, though he denied having an “actual conflict” and only acknowledged the “appearance” of one. Brennan has also criticized Shapiro for hiring a former Philadelphia prosecutor who had previously overseen Greenberg’s case, creating yet another conflict of interest when she was tasked with reviewing her own work. Brennan believes that Shapiro’s motivations were entirely political, stating, “Who needed the Philadelphia police and the Philadelphia vote in order to get into the governor’s office? Attorney General Shapiro. This guy puts politics above everything.”

The handling of the crime scene and evidence has also raised serious questions about the integrity of the investigation. Much of the physical evidence was destroyed by a crime scene cleanup crew before police arrived, and digital evidence may have been compromised when it was removed by Judge James Schwartzman, the uncle of Greenberg’s fiancé. Schwartzman, a prominent Pennsylvania judge, took items from the crime scene before police could process it, a decision Brennan called “incomprehensible.” While neither Schwartzman nor Greenberg’s fiancé, Sam Goldberg, has been accused of wrongdoing, multiple judges have criticized the mishandling of the crime scene and forensic evidence in lawsuits filed by Greenberg’s parents. The family’s lawsuits accuse local officials and the medical examiner’s office of engaging in a “concealed conspiracy” to disguise Greenberg’s homicide as a suicide.

In a recent development, Dr. Osbourne finally walked back his controversial suicide ruling in a letter to a Pennsylvania court, stating that Greenberg’s death should be classified as “something other than suicide.” This reversal came just before the City of Philadelphia settled a lawsuit with Greenberg’s parents, who had accused local officials of covering up the true nature of their daughter’s death. Despite this progress, Brennan remains unsatisfied, calling for a federal investigation into the corruption he believes has plagued the case from the start. “You have people who are actually trying to hide a homicide,” Brennan said. “Don’t you think the federal government would be interested in the corruption?” He has also expressed hope that President Donald Trump’s Justice Department will appoint a Republican U.S. attorney to investigate the matter, signaling a deep distrust in local authorities. As the case continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Ellen Greenberg’s family will not rest until they uncover the truth behind her tragic and untimely death.