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Apartment 603: The Death of Ellen Greenberg (with Debbie Dowling-Wahba)
Manage episode 521179865 series 3684293
What happens when a young woman is found stabbed more than twenty times inside her locked apartment—and authorities still call it a suicide? How does a 2011 Philadelphia “locked-room” death keep sparking controversy, lawsuits, and new reviews more than a decade later? In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco, joined by guest host Debbie Dowling‑Wahba, unpack the haunting case of Ellen Greenberg— a 27‑year‑old first-grade teacher found dead in Apartment 603 with a knife in her chest and dozens of wounds, yet officially ruled a suicide.
From the snowy January evening when Ellen’s fiancé, Sam Goldberg, says he returned from the gym to a door latched from the inside, to the shocking autopsy findings, a reversed homicide ruling, and a 2025 reinvestigation that again declared suicide, our panel walks through every twist in one of Pennsylvania’s most hotly debated true crime cases. We follow Ellen’s parents’ relentless quest to prove their daughter was murdered, and the legal battles they launched against the city and medical examiner’s office to challenge what they see as a cover‑up and a catastrophic failure of justice.
Tune in to hear:
The night of January 26, 2011: How a Philadelphia snowstorm, a “locked” Apartment 603, and a frantic 911 call led to the discovery of 27‑year‑old teacher Ellen Greenberg with a knife in her chest and more than twenty stab wounds.
Autopsy vs. investigation: Why the medical examiner initially ruled Ellen’s death a homicide, then reversed it to suicide after a closed‑door meeting with Philadelphia police – and how that change shut down a full murder investigation.
Parents turned investigators: How Josh and Sandy Greenberg hired top forensic experts and a former prosecutor who argue that Ellen’s wounds, bruises, and possible spinal injury are far more consistent with homicide than self‑harm.
Lawsuits and a bombshell affidavit: The 2019 and 2022 civil suits accusing officials of a cover‑up, and the 2025 affidavit where the original pathologist says Ellen’s manner of death should not be classified as suicide.
The 2025 review that kept “suicide” on the death certificate: What Philadelphia’s new 32‑page medical examiner report says about hesitation wounds, lack of defensive injuries, and why it still calls this a suicide – and why our panel and many true crime followers remain unconvinced.
Our panel’s debate: Could this really be a bizarre, self‑inflicted death – or is Apartment 603 a staged crime scene and an unsolved Philadelphia murder?
⚖️ Disclaimer: Debate the News: True Crime is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, or forensic experts. While we research each case, the show is recorded live with minimal editing; any factual errors are unintentional. Any individuals, businesses, and organizations mentioned who have not been convicted of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This episode includes discussion of graphic violence and suicide; listener discretion is strongly advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help may be available in the U.S. via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Guest and audience views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts.
Speakers:
→ Adrienne Barker — Host
→ Joseph Lobosco — Host
→ Debbie Dowling‑Wahba — Guest Host
→ Mariana Thomas — Guest Contributor
→ Maria — Guest Contributor
→ Shauna — Guest Contributor
→ "Mama K" — Guest Contributor
Credits:
“Debate The News: True Crime”
Created by: Jonathan Bing, Adrienne Barker and Joseph R. Lobosco
Producers: Adrienne Barker, Joseph R. Lobosco, Jonathan Bing
Writers: Adrienne Barker & Joseph R. Lobosco
Editor: Joseph R. Lobosco
Cover Art: Joseph R. Lobosco
Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team
Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds
Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma
Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube
🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production
📍 Recorded Live on Chatter Social
40 episodes
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