HYANNIS NEWS INTERVIEW: District Attorney Cautions Press

From P-Town to Boston everyone’s talking about this case.  Mostly everyone agrees that last week’s tragedy is probably one of the sadness things that has happened in our community in quite a while.  Attractive successful couple from nice neighborhood, husband gunned down in living room, Doctor confesses to pulling the trigger, community upset over allegations of abuse… it’s the type of story that has people talking, arguing, emailing, and calling their own moms.

But one thing is certain, this case is still under investigation and it’s not a popularity contest.  We simply do not know what happened last Sunday.

Speculation is a dangerous thing… especially when one person cannot tell his side of the story because he’s dead.

Advocates are coming forward with plenty of theories.  Some are already calling this killing a case of “Battered Woman Syndrome,” while others are saying she is getting off easy because of being a popular female physician.  The contrary “Female Doctorial Privilege” term is being thrown around by those concerned with this case being tried in the press prior to the disclosure of the facts.

According to an interview with Lysetta Hurge-Putnam the Director of Independence House in Hyannis, an agency dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence, her mind’s made up.  According to the information she has at this point, Hurge-Putnam feels that Dr. Ann Gryboski is clearly a victim of “Battered Woman Syndrome.”  “Just look at her face… what more do you need?” Hurge-Putnam told Hyannis News.  Hurge-Putnam also believes in the “Battered Woman Syndrome” as a valid defense for all females.  She went on to say that in order for males to qualify for the same defense they would need to start their own movement, “just like the Women’s Movement of 30 years ago.”

A Boston television reporter who covers murder stories all the time said in private, "I'm not sure I buy all this, [Lancaster] is not able to defend himself."  I’m not sure she made those comments on the air, last Monday the two facial bruises became the story of the day...

In light of all the coverage, “expert” interviews, and editorials, the one man representing the prosecution of this murder case had one basic message for the media.  He urged reporters not to indulge in speculation due to fact that it’s still very early in the investigation. 

Here at Hyannis News we realize reporters are not trained to investigate crimes and the real facts will come out eventually.