Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mysterious case talks suicide, mental health, homicide.
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Death in Apartment 603
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
DEATH IN APARTMENT 603: WHAT HAPPENED TO ELLEN GREENBERG is a true crime series about the strange circumstances surrounding the death of a young elementary school teacher. During a blizzard on January 26, 2011, Samuel Goldberg returned from the gym and found his fiancée, Ellen Greenberg, on the kitchen floor of their Philadelphia apartment bloodied and with a knife in her heart. After a preliminary assessment of the crime scene, and after receiving information about Ellen's recent mental health issues, police quickly concluded that she died by suicide. A few days later an autopsy revealed that she had 20 stab wounds and at least 11 bruises, some of which were on her back and head, and hard to self-inflict. Her death was ruled a homicide, but local police publicly contested this in the media, and soon after, the medical examiner changed the ruling to suicide. But Ellen's parents, Sandee and Josh Greenberg, along with other family members and Ellen's friends, argue that the evidence suggests foul play. Now, with the help of legal experts and forensic scientists, they're doing everything they can to find out what really happened and see justice served.
Is It Any Good?
The three-part docuseries about the infamous 2011 case offers unexpected details using expected true crime staples, including interviews, brief reenactments, archive footage, and a touch of sensationalism. The first installment focuses on Ellen Greenberg's life, her relationship with fiancé Sam Goldberg, and her mental health in the weeks prior to her death. The rest of the narrative tells the story of Sandee and Josh Greenberg's heartbreaking sense of loss, and their efforts to reignite a formal homicide investigation into her death so that they can learn the truth about what happened to their only child. It also focuses on the alleged failure of law enforcement to correctly handle the crime scene, as well as their ongoing reluctance to revisit the case.
Meanwhile, some of the folks interviewed raise what are currently unfounded suspicions about Goldberg, who didn't participate in the project, and who continues to believe that his late fiancée ended her own life. As a result, one gets the feeling that audiences are being set up for future series installments. Nonetheless, Death in Apartment 603 presents information that's tragic and intriguing, making it a compelling watch for true crime fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what to do when you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health. What media resources are available to help?
Death in Apartment 603 references some of the pressures teachers face because of things like overcrowded classrooms and limited staff support. Why is it so important to remember that teachers have mental health needs, too?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 29, 2025
- Cast : Sandee Greenberg , Josh Greenberg
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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