The Daily Populous Wednesday August 7th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by apnews.com and submitted by Silent-Resort-3076

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from the family of a Philadelphia woman whose 2011 stabbing death was initially ruled a homicide before the medical examiner switched it to suicide after police objected.

First-grade teacher Ellen Greenberg, 27, was found in her apartment with 20 stab wounds. Police considered her death a suicide because her apartment door was locked from the inside and her boyfriend — who said he found her after breaking down the door — had no defensive wounds.

Philadelphia Medical Examiner Marlon Osbourne initially ruled her death a homicide, noting the large number of stab wounds, including 10 to the back of her neck. After police publicly challenged the findings, Osbourne switched the ruling to suicide without explanation.

Greenberg’s parents are seeking to have the ruling changed back to homicide. The city has objected, arguing that state law “makes clear that a medical examiner can be wrong as to the manner of death yet cannot be compelled to change it.”

In Tuesday’s order, the Supreme Court said it will consider whether “executors and administrators of an estate have standing to challenge an erroneous finding recorded on the decedent’s death certificate where that finding constitutes a bar or material impediment to recovery of victim’s compensation, restitution or for wrongful death, as well as private criminal complaints.”

Joseph Podraza, the lawyer for Greenberg’s parents, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that his clients were “elated” by the Supreme Court’s decision to take the case. He said death rulings can impact survivors’ ability to access insurance money and victims funds. He also questioned giving a coroner or medical examiner “absolute discretion that can’t be challenged.”

sonia72quebec on August 7th, 2024 at 14:27 UTC »

So he stabbed her, took a shower, went to the gym, went back to the apartment, kicked the door down and then call the Cops. I imagine they didn't test anything like the bathroom, the elevator (or staircase)the gym equipment..for her blood.

The chance that a stranger did this is practically impossible (the person would have to know exactly when he went to the Gym) so they kind of blame her for her own murder. That guy must be from a really rich family.

dan0o9 on August 7th, 2024 at 13:24 UTC »

How the hell did they rule someone stabbed in the back of the neck committed suicide? Someone on good terms with the killer or something?

Silent-Resort-3076 on August 7th, 2024 at 13:23 UTC »

"The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from the family of a Philadelphia woman whose 2011 stabbing death was initially ruled a homicide before the medical examiner switched it to suicide after police objected."

"First-grade teacher Ellen Greenberg, 27, was found in her apartment with 20 stab wounds. Police considered her death a suicide because her apartment door was locked from the inside and her boyfriend — who said he found her after breaking down the door — had no defensive wounds."