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...

What happens when a rising pop artist’s secret relationship with a 14‑year‑old collides with a missing‑person case—and a body found in a Tesla’s front trunk in Los Angeles? In this episode of Debate The News: True Crime, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco examine the unfolding D4vd (David Anthony Burke) & Celeste Hernandez case—an LAPD death investigation with no charges filed as of November 18, 2025. We trace the timeline from repeated runaways in 2024 to the grisly discovery in September 2025, and debate what the available facts—and gaps—really suggest.

Tune in to hear:

• Early 2024 – Runaways & a secret older “friend”: Fifteen‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez repeatedly runs away from her Lake Elsinore, CA home as her family pleads for her return. Her mother suspects an older friend named “David.”
• April 5, 2024 – Found in Hollywood: Police locate Celeste ~80 miles away in Hollywood and return her home. Family learns she had been in contact with 20‑year‑old David Anthony Burke (stage name: D4vd), and a former teacher later says Celeste spent about a month with him before police intervened.
• May 2024 – Double life intensifies: Celeste runs away again; she and David reportedly get matching “SHHH” finger tattoos. Friends claim they thought she was 19 because of fake IDs and 18+ events. She eventually returns home.
• Jan 2, 2025 – Last confirmed alive image: After this date, Celeste is scarcely seen in Lake Elsinore and is believed to have secretly rejoined David in LA as his career surges (debut album Withered releases April 2025; major tour planned).
• May–July 2025 – The Tesla starts moving: Neighbors notice David’s Tesla being shuffled to different curb spots (apparently to avoid the 72‑hour rule). On July 29, the SUV is parked one last time on Bluebird Avenue as David departs by tour bus for the first leg of the Withered Tour.
• Aug 27–Sep 5, 2025 – From chalk to tow: Tires are chalked on Aug 27; a 72‑hour citation is issued Sep 3; the Tesla is towed Sep 5 to a Hollywood impound lot.
• Sep 8, 2025 – Discovery in the frunk: A tow‑yard employee reports a powerful odor. Police open the front trunk (frunk) and find a black duffel containing the badly decomposed remains of a young female, quickly identified as Celeste—one day after what would have been her 15th birthday. The Medical Examiner cannot immediately determine cause or time of death, though she likely died weeks earlier.
• Sep 17, 2025 – Warrants & swatting: LAPD searches David’s Hollywood Hills rental, seizing electronics and personal items; a swatting hoax hits his family home in Texas the same day.
• Sep 19–24, 2025 – Career in freefall: Tour canceled by sponsors/management; his social media goes quiet; a Texas property is transferred to his mother; movers clear out the LA rental as the lease ends. Police name no suspect and suggest the only potential crime known so far could be concealment of a death if Celeste died accidentally.
• October 2025 – Defense...

The Hollywood Hills Bling Ring was an audacious series of celebrity burglaries in 2008–2009, where a group of fame-obsessed California teens led by Rachel Lee and Nick Prugo raided the homes of Hollywood’s rich and famous. The crew stalked stars like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Orlando Bloom, and others – slipping into luxury mansions to steal designer clothes, jewelry, and cash (totaling around $3 million in loot) while the unsuspecting celebrities were away. This episode unpacks how this teenage crime spree unfolded, how social media and lax security enabled it, and the media frenzy and debates about fame, security, and justice that followed.

• October 2008: Rachel Lee and Nick Prugo commit the first Bling Ring burglary at Paris Hilton’s Los Angeles mansion. Exploiting an unlocked door, they sneak in and make off with about $3,600 in cash. Hilton’s home would be hit five times in total over the coming months, culminating in accomplice Roy Lopez Jr. stealing nearly $2 million in Hilton’s jewelry.
• February 2009 (Oscars Night): The crew targets Audrina Patridge while she’s attending the Academy Awards. They steal a laptop, passport, jewelry, and designer clothes worth about $43,000. Surveillance footage captures Lee and Prugo in the act.
• Spring 2009: Actress Rachel Bilson is hit multiple times, with burglars stealing between $130,000 and $300,000worth of designer items.
• July 13, 2009: The biggest heist: the group robs Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr’s home, making off with $500,000 in luxury goods.
• August 23, 2009: Lee, Prugo, and Tamayo hit Lindsay Lohan’s house, stealing $130,000 in clothing and jewelry. Surveillance footage of Prugo helps authorities identify the culprits.
• September–October 2009: Police arrest all seven members of the Bling Ring. Prugo’s confession is key to unraveling the case. Stolen goods are recovered from multiple homes.
• 2009–2013: Each suspect receives varying sentences. Some serve jail time, while others receive probation. Lenient plea deals result in short stints for many, despite the scale of the crimes.

Our panel debated whether celebrity negligence contributed to the burglaries or if full blame belongs to the Bling Ring teens. The consensus: no matter how careless a homeowner may be, invading someone’s home and stealing is never justified. Social media’s role was also highlighted, with the group using public posts to track victims’ whereabouts, prompting a broader conversation about digital privacy and real-world safety.

We also questioned whether justice was truly served. Despite repeated felonies and emotional harm to the victims, most perpetrators received probation or minimal jail time. The light sentencing and post-crime fame raise ethical concerns about how media and society reward infamy—turning criminals into celebrities.

⚖️ Disclaimer: Debate The News: True Crime Edition is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, or forensic experts. While we research each case thoroughly, the show is recorded live with little to no editing; any factual errors are unintentional. All individuals mentioned who have not been convicted in a court of law are presumed innocent until...