This week on Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya Banerjee begin a two-part forensic review of the 2011 death of Ellen Greenberg, a young woman found with more than twenty stab wounds in her Philadelphia apartment. Despite the severity and location of her injuries, Ellen’s death was ruled a suicide not once but twice. In part one, Dr. Priya walks listeners through the science of sharp-force injuries, defines key forensic terminology, and explains why certain wound patterns, especially those to the back of the head and neck, raise significant questions about how this case was ever closed.    

 

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Pathology with Dr. Priya: A Zone 7 series—Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya introduce the Ellen Greenberg case and outline the official findings
• (2:00) Dr. Priya defines sharp-force injuries and explains the difference between stab and cutting wounds
• (6:45) Identifying single-edged versus double-edged blades and how wound shape reveals the type of weapon
• (8:00) Understanding defensive wounds and what their presence means
• (10:30) The classification of cause and manner of death and why Ellen Greenberg’s case remains controversial
• (13:45) How and why medical examiners revisit cases when new information or legal action arises
• (16:30) Reviewing Ellen’s autopsy and toxicology results
• (18:45) Why stab wounds to the back of the head and neck are nearly impossible to self-inflict and what that reveals about this case

 

 

About the Hosts

Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, NSA cases, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom.

Website: anchorforensicpathology.com
Twitter/X: @Autopsy_MD

Sheryl McCollum is an Emmy Award–winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, and the Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She works as a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department and is the co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute (CCIRI), a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together universities, law enforcement, and experts to help solve unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and kidnappings.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

 

📣 If this episode gave you new insight into the forensic complexities of Ellen Greenberg’s case, share it with a friend and leave a review. Your support helps others discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.