QUESTIONS: Hubby of Thirty Years Shot Dead, Why?

Hyannis News has some questions…

It was just over one week ago when Barnstable Chief of Police Paul MacDonald and District Attorney Michael O'Keefe announced that they were investigating the death of Patrick Lancaster DOB: 4/11/1956 of 11 Coach Lane, Barnstable. 

He was found dead on the floor of his living room Easter Sunday with 2 gunshot wounds to his abdomen.

He had two grown sons in their 20's and reportedly one of the sons was home at the time and witnessed the shooting.

Arrested and charged with murder was the deceased victim's wife Dr. Ann Gryboski age 51. The matter remains under investigation by Barnstable Police and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the District Attorney's office.

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A local man is dead and Hyannis News has some questions (some of these are purposely in random order):

What actually caused the bruising to Ann Gryboski’s lip and eye?  The defense paints one picture, but is it an accurate one? 

Is the defendant, who is charged with murder, telling the truth about what drove her to pull the trigger last Easter Sunday?  Did her statements change during the investigation?

Does Gryboski have a motive to not tell the truth? 

Is Gryboski being treated for mental illness, depression, anxiety, or any other illness that may shed new light on her actions?  Was Lancaster being treated for any illness that may shed light on his actions, whatever those actions may have been?

Why did Gryboski shoot her husband of almost thirty years?  Was it the result of “self-defense,” “battered woman syndrome,” or was it premeditated murder... was the killing something Gryboski had been waiting to do for quite a while?  Did she find last Easter Sunday to be an opportunity to settle a bad marriage once and for all?

Why did Gryboski have a license to carry guns?  She told police one thing, but has anyone heard her make remarks about her using the license to obtain a weapon to protect herself from a specific threat?

Has anyone ever heard Gryboski talk about how she may have wanted Lancaster dead?

Has anyone ever heard Lancaster's son say he wanted his father killed?

Did Gryboski, a physician, have prior knowledge of the so-called “Battered Woman Syndrome” defense?  Had she ever talked about that subject with any of her friends or patients?

What type of websites did Gryboski frequent?

Gryboski is a Doctor and mandated reporter; she knows the laws and resources available to domestic violence victims, why didn’t she call the police about her husband’s alleged abuse?  If Lancaster was abusive to their sons, why didn’t she call the police for their sake?  Did Gryboski ever report suspected abuse in her capacity as a physician?  Did she ever council anyone to seek help for domestic abuse?

Did Gryboski have a lover?  Did Lancaster have a lover?

Did Lancaster have a weapon in his hand?

Why are Lancaster’s friends not talking to the press at this time?  Are they potential witnesses? Do they have evidence that will come forward at later date?  Do they not trust the reporter they talked to that particular day?  Are they thrown off by initial theories and wild speculation?  Do they also have a story to tell?

Was Lancaster abusive?  If so, was he so abusive that he deserved to die?

Was Gryboski ever abusive?

Has the son ever been abusive?  Had he ever struck anyone in the face?  Where was/ is the mother of the toddler?

Why did Gryboski wait to call 911 until after she fatally shot Lancaster?

How long had Lancaster’s body been dead on the living room floor prior to the arrival of police?  What time was Lancaster actually shot?  Are the shots from the same person holding the same weapon?

Is the physical evidence consistent with Gryboski firing the weapon?  Could her son be responsible for discharging the weapon?  Is it possible two people each fired one bullet from the same gun?

Did Gryboski know how her son would react when he saw the bruising on her face?  Did she tell her son Lancaster caused the marks or did her son immediately assume?

What caused the couple to recently make their large house even larger by building on a significantly sized addition?  Were Gryboski and Lancaster living in the same bedroom? 

Did Gryboski ever consider divorcing her husband?  Was Lancaster talking about divorcing her?  The boys are both grown men in their twenties, why wasn’t divorce an option instead of killing?  Who made more money?  Who may have benefited financially from a divorce?  How much was Gryboski worth?  How much was Lancaster worth?  Are there mitigating circumstances that would cause a divorce to be a particularly messy one in this case?

Do we know of actual problems reported to investigating officials (not rumors or gossip printed in the local “rag”)  Was the relationship an unhappy one?  If so, what kept a successful doctor with an abusive carpenter? Was the couple ever seen doing things together aside from walking the dogs?

It has been said that abuse victims love their abusers so much they sometimes don’t take action.  Did Gryboski arm herself out of love?  Did she pull the trigger out of love?  Could she have dialed 911 prior to the shooting out of love?

Did Lancaster’s recent emergency surgery change the couple's relationship? 

Who trained Gryboski to shoot?  Did she receive additional training?  Did she always carry a handgun? How did she carry her gun?  In her purse?  Under a garment?   Was she carrying a gun at home on Easter Sunday?  Or did she have to go to a secure place, unlock the weapon, load it, bring it into the room before shooting?  Where was the murder weapon prior to the shooting?

When she allegedly came upon her husband fighting with the son, did the husband see the gun?  If he saw the gun why didn’t he stop?  Why did he allegedly take a step toward her if she had a gun?  Did he expect her to pull the trigger?  Did she tell him to stop?  Did she say anything before she pulled the trigger?

How fast was Lancaster on his feet after his recent emergency hip surgery?

Did Gryboski attempt any life saving measures?

What sort of evidence has been found on their computers?

Did Gryboski tell anyone she wanted him dead?  Did she ever make any off-color remarks in reference to use of lethal force?

When was the last time she practiced shooting?

It was Easter at noon, where was the rest of the family?

Did the son and father fight often?

She works closely with patients in her practice, bruises are difficult to cover up… did anyone ever see anything?

These questions could go on and on.  And I find it important to ask as many questions as possible at this point in time.  The media has jumped to many premature conclusions, and they may be right in every single one of them!

But I feel both Gryboski and Lancaster deserve an in-depth investigation and fair trial.  By the way, if it is discovered that Lancaster deserved to die, his sentence has already been carried out (Massachusetts Capital Punishment justified by "Self-Defense" or perhaps "Battered Woman Syndrome?").

One last note(s): It has been my personal life experience that suspects facing serious charges often change their stories after the initial shock begins to wear off and they’ve had more time to think.  By the time the case actually is presented before a judge the stories often differ greatly from the initial statements given to first responders and detectives.  Why?  It’s simply human nature, a built-in survival response...  As guilt wears off, stories change.  Defense attorneys are trained to spin these changes and offer up all sorts of contrary explanations.  Strangely, more and more blame is often placed on the actual victim.  If the victim cannot tell their side of the story (because they’re dead), the defense’s story is less likely to be challenged.

Can you think of any recent world famous Cape Cod murder cases where there was a confession and statements that drastically changed and had a new spin by the time it actually went to trial?

It is also very common for a confession or statement given in interrogation to change in such a way that it strongly favors the accused.  Often the defense will work with a statement to see if an important criminal element could be explained in such a way to bring up the theory of “self-defense.” (or some other form of denial...) 

Again that has been my personal life experience and I’m not saying that is what actually happened in the Lancaster Murder Case- but I do think it should be considered.

Has Gryboski changed her statements in such a way to remove criminal elements from her actions that led to the death of her husband of 30 years?  If so, when did these changes begin?

Last question:

Why did Dr. Ann Gryboski pull the trigger? 

Are we any closer to knowing the truth at this point?  I think not.  

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What do you think of the "Battered Woman Syndrome" Defense/ Theory?

POLL QUESTION: Should one gender, race, or creed have less culpability in domestic murder cases? 

(Please participate, the poll can be found in the column to the left of this page. Check out Editorial "Thank You For Not Shooting Me..." for a different perspective on the subject)