Ellen Greenberg’s 2011 death in apartment 603 remains officially classified as a suicide , but it is widely treated as a highly suspicious and controversial case, now the focus of the docuseries Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? on Hulu. Her parents and many observers firmly believe she was murdered and are still fighting to have the case reopened.

What happened in apartment 603?

On January 26, 2011, 27‑year‑old schoolteacher Ellen Greenberg was found dead on the kitchen floor of the Philadelphia apartment she shared with her fiancé, Sam Goldberg (unit 603).

Key facts repeatedly cited in coverage include:

  • She had about 20 stab wounds, including to the back of her head and neck, plus at least 11 bruises in various stages of healing.
  • A knife was found embedded in her chest, and no DNA other than Ellen’s was reported on the knife.
  • The apartment’s door was reported to have been latched from the inside, and Goldberg told police he had to break the latch to get in before discovering her body and calling 911.

How authorities ruled her death

The handling of Ellen’s case is at the heart of the controversy.

  1. Initial response
    • Detectives at the scene treated the death as a possible suicide despite the number and location of the wounds.
  1. Autopsy and reclassification
    • The autopsy initially listed the manner of death as homicide , citing the nature and pattern of the injuries.
 * Shortly afterward, the manner of death was changed back to **suicide** , and the city of Philadelphia closed the case without further investigation, a move that has drawn intense criticism.
  1. Later reaffirmation
    • In 2025, the city reaffirmed the suicide ruling after a review by the chief medical examiner, who argued that, while the injuries were “undeniably unusual,” Ellen could have inflicted them herself and that several wounds resembled “hesitation wounds.”
 * The examiner also noted there was no documented history of domestic abuse with her fiancé and that his timeline was supported by phone records, texts, surveillance footage, keycard data, and interviews.

Why the case is so controversial

Ellen’s parents and many experts argue the official explanation does not fit the physical evidence or the broader context of her life.

Common points raised by critics:

  • The number and placement of the stab wounds (front and back, including the back of the neck) strike many forensic experts as inconsistent with typical self‑inflicted injuries.
  • Multiple bruises in different stages of healing suggest prior trauma that, in their view, was not adequately explored.
  • Critics argue the scene was not treated or preserved as a potential homicide scene early enough, compromising evidence.
  • Independent forensic pathologists (such as Dr. Cyril Wecht and Dr. Wayne Ross, referenced in discussions of the case) have reportedly raised concerns that the injuries more closely resemble homicidal violence than suicide.

Her family’s lawyer has publicly attacked the reaffirmed suicide ruling as “fundamentally flawed,” alleging that the review was designed to justify a pre‑decided conclusion and ignored evidence contradicting suicide. The family has pursued lawsuits against Philadelphia and continues to seek a homicide investigation and, ultimately, a prosecution.

The docuseries: Death in Apartment 603

ABC News Studios’ three‑part series Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? began streaming on Hulu in late 2025 and quickly became a top‑ranked true‑crime title.

What the show focuses on:

  • Ellen’s life as a young teacher, her relationship with her fiancé, and the events on the day she died.
  • Rare access to the case file: the 911 call, crime‑scene photos and video, autopsy analysis, and building surveillance footage.
  • Interviews with her parents, former neighbors and building staff, a former colleague of her fiancé, attorneys, law‑enforcement experts, and advocates.
  • Alleged flaws and inconsistencies in the original investigation, and the broader systemic issues in how suspicious deaths—especially of women—are classified.

The director, Nancy Schwartzman, has said she was “stunned” by a new medical‑examiner report reaffirming suicide and views the series as part of a wider effort to highlight investigative and systemic failures.

Key viewpoints at a glance

Below is a concise comparison of how different sides frame “what happened” to Ellen Greenberg:

[3][7][1] [7][8][1][3] [5][8][1][3][7] [2][8][1][3][5][7] [6][9][2][3][5]

[9][6][2][3][5]
Perspective Core claim about her death Main supporting points
City of Philadelphia / current official ruling Manner of death is suicide.- Door reportedly locked from inside, no sign of forced entry beyond fiancé breaking latch.
- Only Ellen’s DNA on the knife.
- Injuries partly interpreted as hesitation wounds; examiner says she could have inflicted them herself.
- No documented history of domestic abuse; fiancé’s timeline supported by records and surveillance.
Ellen’s parents and supporters They believe she was murdered and the case was mishandled.- 20 stab wounds, including to back of head/neck, plus multiple bruises seen as incompatible with suicide.
- Initial autopsy ruling of homicide later reversed to suicide without a full reinvestigation.
- Independent forensic experts’ reports questioning the suicide theory.
- Alleged investigative gaps, including early assumptions and scene handling.
Docuseries & true‑crime analysts Case is suspicious and unresolved; asks “what really happened?” rather than stating a definitive answer. \- Highlights contradictions between physical evidence and official conclusions.
\- Examines relationship dynamics and potential risk factors around separation and coercive control.
\- Uses case to critique how systems classify deaths and handle violence against women.

Where things stand now

  • Officially, Ellen Greenberg’s manner of death remains recorded as suicide , reaffirmed by Philadelphia authorities in 2025.
  • Unofficially, the case is widely discussed as a possible unsolved homicide or “hidden homicide,” and public pressure has grown through petitions, legal challenges, and now the Hulu series.
  • Her parents continue to pursue legal avenues and public advocacy “by any means necessary” to have the manner of death changed and the investigation reopened.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.