Pennsylvania Supreme Court agrees to review suicide ruling in case of woman with 20 stab wounds

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by the family of a Philadelphia woman whose stabbing death in 2011 was initially ruled a homicide, but the coroner changed it to suicide after police objected.

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

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

Greenberg’s parents want the verdict changed back to murder. The city has objected, arguing that state law “makes it clear that a coroner can be wrong about the cause of death but cannot be forced to change it.”

Tuesday’s order states: The Supreme Court said it will consider or “executors and administrators of an estate have the authority to challenge an erroneous finding on the decedent’s death certificate where that finding would constitute a bar or substantial impediment to obtaining compensation for the victim, restitution or wrongful death, as well as private criminal complaints.”

Joseph Podraza, the attorney for Greenberg’s parents, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that his clients were “delighted” by the Supreme Court’s decision to take the case. He said that rulings on deaths could affect survivors’ ability to access insurance money and victim benefits. He also questioned whether a coroner or medical examiner should have “absolute discretion that cannot be challenged.”