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Investigation Into PA Woman Fatally Stabbed 20X Goes Inactive: DA

The investigation into the brutal stabbing death of Ellen Greenberg is being placed into inactive status on Friday, Nov. 8, according to the Chester County District Attorney's Office.

Ellen Greenberg

Ellen Greenberg

Photo Credit: Justice For Ellen Facebook photo

Greenberg was found on the kitchen floor of her Philadelphia apartment with 20 stab wounds — 10 to the back of her neck alone — on Jan. 26, 2011, according to previous reporting by Daily Voice. She was 27 years old at the time of her death.

While the city's medical examiner initially ruled the teacher and Harrisburg native's death a homicide, he later changed to it suicide, as we reported. In, 2022, attorneys for Greenberg's family argued to have the ruling on her death changed from suicide to something else.

The investigation by Philadelphia authorities was turned over to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office for review in 2018, according to the Chester County District Attorney's Office states. This led to the case being turned over to the Chester County Detectives in August 2022.

Because the detectives are currently unable to move forward with criminal charges, the case is being placed into inactive status, according to the news release. 

Chester County investigators conducted reviews of the Philadelphia and Attorney General's Office investigations to determine if there was sufficient evidence to reopen the case, the news release states. Based on the current state of evidence, they found they couldn't prove a crime was committed beyond a reasonable doubt.

"This standard of proof—beyond a reasonable doubt—makes the criminal investigation different than other legal cases or issues that surround Ms. Greenberg’s death," according to the news release. "Because we cannot meet our burden of proof with the information and evidence presently available, we placed this investigation in an inactive status."

However, because there is no statute of limitations for criminal homicide in Pennsylvania and because investigations can take new directions, the case will not be officially closed, the news release states.

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