Doctor Accused Of Shooting Husband To Death

BOSTON -- A Cape Cod doctor appeared in court Monday, accused of killing her husband during the weekend.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that Barnstable police said that Dr. Ann Gryboski, 51, arrived in Barnstable District Court Monday with bruises on her face.

She was arrested on Sunday, three hours after police found Patrick Lancaster, 50, shot to death at 11 Coach Lane. At about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, police said that they received a 911 call from Gryboski. When officials got to the house, police said that Lancaster was already dead.

"There was a dispute, obviously, between a husband and a wife. It ended tragically, as sometimes occurs in these events," Barnstable County District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said.

In an interview with police, officials said that Gryboski said that she shot her husband after a heated argument between Lancaster and his son. As Gryboski attempted to intercede, she said that her husband came toward her, and that she fired two gunshots that struck him in the side and torso.

Neighbors said that they never saw any problems with the family.

"Never any yelling or creaming. You never saw any violence, but who knows what goes on behind closed doors, as you know," neighbor Bruce Laughlin said.

Gryboski said that the fight started after her husband struck her numerous times while they were in the car. Their 2-year-old grandson was in the car at the time.

Gryboski works for Yarmouth Internists in South Yarmouth and for the Cape Cod Hospital.

"During this time we do offer our condolences to her and her family," Cape Cod Hospital spokesman David Reilly said. "We are meeting today, and we will be meeting throughout the course of the week to see how to best take care of (her patients') health care needs during this unfortunate time."

"She was a very popular, nice doctor. She had a nice reputation," said Portia, a hospital employee.

The couple has two sons, who were both in court Monday during the arraignment. Gryboski was released on $50,000 bail.