Andrew Bagby, a gregarious family-practice resident at Latrobe, was found shot to death on Nov. 5, 2001, in Keystone State Park. Blu-Ray | DVD, BLU-RAY Lying on my shoulder and looking up at me as if to say, Yes Nan, Im here.. A review of Turner's and Zachary's deaths, released in 2006 by Winnipeg-based coroner Peter Markesteyn, concluded the provinces social services system failed Zachary and his death could have been prevented. Mr. BAGBY: And part of Andrew's problem was, I think, he was just too nice to say, you know, `Get the hell out of my life. And Turner had said he was a, MORRISON: But there were some caveats. Mr. BAGBY: Yes. SCREAMS. It's great. If. `You gave me a lovely son, and now it's over.'. They might as well have sent a taxi to her to help take him out and drown him. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. MORRISON: But Andrew did agree to meet Shirley in a nearby park. any problem at all with them spending time with him, unlike my mother, Mr. SHEARS: I guess I just thought, well, they're kind of accusing her of, murder. Mr. KUENNE: (Kate holding Zachary) Hello, bud. Lastly, Dear Zachary was screened in Ottawa on March 11, 2009 for various members of Parliament and their staff; as a result, a small but committed group of Parliamentarians are now drafting a bill based on the issues raised in the film. Mommy misses you. GARDNER: (Audio recording) I'm interested in the gun. Dear Zachary was also a hit at Silverdocs, the AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Film Festival over the weekend of June 21st & 22nd, where both screenings were once again met with standing ovations; Silverdocs nominated Dear Zachary for its inaugural Writers Guild of America Documentary Screenplay Award. Information on who and where to write can be found on the "Support Bail Reform" page. I said, `When do you think you'll be done?' MORRISON: And then, in the spring of 1995, Andrew found someone, a Newfoundlander, also a doctor in training, a woman named Shirley Turner. A few weeks after, Zachary's birthday party, the Bagbys and Shirley took the toddler swimming, an, activity he usually enjoyed. It would be kind of upsetting, I guess, to let your son spend time. Mr. BAGBY: We first got to see him personally in family court. Sometimes, if you are paying attentionclose attentionyou can see it coming, even if only barely. They were somewhat successful with the passing of Bill C-464 in December 2010 with the added clause that bail could be denied if it was deemed necessary for the protection of anyone under the age of 18. ), DEAR ZACHARY 10TH ANNIVERSARY HD REMASTERED EDITIONNOW AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY, DVD, and DIGITAL, For the film's 10th anniversary, Kurt Kuenne remastered "Dear Zachary", its epilogue, and its bonus features for HD, converting the original standard definition elements to HD shot-by-shot, while remixing the film in 5.1 surround, so that it now looks and sounds as originally intended on today's platforms. Senior Writer and Project Manager. But a few weeks later, she showed up in Pennsylvania, unexpected, for the wedding of one of his friends. Hoping to gain custody of the child, the Bagbys moved to Newfoundland. This is where the foreshadowed bureaucracy comes back. Slamdance Film Festival book signing! October 22, 2009: with a supervisor, and we had to be searched. I would really like for you and Kate. See rank. He said, `What can happen?'. Only Kate and David, MORRISON: Perhaps the most irksome part of the deal with Shirley. And in that way this tragedy remains hers and hers alone. I can understand that. So we called, and he came over and told us that Zachary and Shirley were. I, was like, `Hi, buddy.' But their efforts to. When Kuenne narrates the particulars of the crime, the evidence, or the legal proceedings, his voiceover shifts to a stylized, rapid-fire clip, making it easy for the audience to miss key details. On Monday, March 22, 2010, the House of Commons in Ottawa unanimously passed Bill C-464 - An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (justification for detention in custody). The news and opinions youll love for only $10 for 1 year. And this is where director Kurt Kuenne is really smart. Kate says everything seemed to be going smoothly, until here. There is a dark pull in watching the Bagby case travel to unanticipated depths, but there are no thrills. I can say it like that because even without a trial, the evidence was so damning we might as well have been next to her when she carried out the crime. Mr. BAGBY: She told the court she was afraid we would harm the baby. Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) Or what about the one of me and Andrew? He had been shot five times and the No. Mommy loves you. The private member's bill was introduced by MP Scott Andrews of Newfoundland last fall after he saw "Dear Zachary" at a March 2009 screening in Ottawa and decided to do something about what he saw. MORRISON: As Kurt tracked down Andrew's friends for the documentary he was making, he discovered that not a one had anything favorable to say about Shirley. Understood? news about his mother and baby brother, and was slammed with instant blowback. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father sounds like the kind of movie I would never want to see, which is why it took me so long to actually see it. -, "Some of the week's biggest flicks aren't at Sundancefilmmakers have praised Slamdance film. Dear Zachary has been announced as the first film to launch the newly formed MSNBC Films division of MSNBC. GARDNER: (Audio recording) I have to tell you that Andrew is dead. But on Sunday, when he drove her to the airport, Andrew made it clear to Shirley it was over for good. Turner killed herself and Zachary before she could be tried for murder. Check your local listings for channel info. Bagbys wondered if there might ever be an extradition hearing. Dear Zachary is now available on DVD! This is the attention thing I was talking about. The Bagbys still hold a bitterness when they talk about how they were failed by a legal system that let Turner out on bail and allowed her to retain custody of Zachary. There won't be any question about whether she can hurt, MORRISON: Coming up, as David Bagby wrestles with these terrible. (Newfoundland; Shears driving; photo of Shirley and Zachary; water at night; Mr. SHEARS: She said Zachary was being fussy and that just driving him, around would calm him down. We. I said, `Do not meet her in private.' Read the DocuWeek Q&A with writer/director/composer Kurt Kuenne HERE. We were done," Kate Bagby said, finishing her husband's thought, a quirk of their relationship that became apparent during a several-hour recount of how their lives spiraled out of control after that phone call from police. She was here.' Memorial University Medical School. T.J. and his girlfriend went to bed. None of his friends liked Turner because she was often inappropriate and even harassed one of Bagbys exes and just generally appeared to be an incredibly unstable, crude, and unlikeable personbasically Bagby's exact opposite. This film was no longer a letter to you, Unidentified Man #23: Well, everybody always says, well, what. But something kept me going, and. He was like, `Eh, mm.' An abridged version of "Dear Zachary" will premiere on CBC Newsworld in Canada on Sunday, October 25th at 10 PM ET/PT. MORRISON: Shirley Turner, also a doctor in training, was 12 years older than Andrew, twice divorced, a mother of three. She has to veer away from the image and instead see him as a living being. ', Because I know you would be worried if we disappeared for a couple of days or, MORRISON: Was she planning something? She landed a residency at a hospital in Iowa, several states away but still close enough to allow occasional weekends with Andrew in Pennsylvania. What a flaky person. David and Kate Bagby know all about the unlikely power of love funneled through rage. You know what, when Andrew didn't show up at 7:30, I knew something was very wrong. Dear Zachary was then voted the #3 audience favorite of the festival by viewer ballot, out of the 172 distinguished documentaries screening at Hot Docs. Right, right. I--we both did. A court mandate allowed David and Kate Bagby to spend time, with their grandson, babysitting, even sharing in joint activities with. You will laugh, you will smile, you will cry, and you might even want to stand up and shout at the screen. a--with a hand grenade in the kitchen with the pin already pulled. Because this is foreshadowing. She was deranged. Instead, the film's dramatic nodes are scenes such as the one in which Bagby's parents, David and Kate, recall going to identify their son's body. Dear Zachary was the most honored film at Cinequest 18 in San Jose, receiving sustained standing ovations from packed houses at all 3 screenings and winning 2 awards - a Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature and the Audience Award. unforgivable and that's just the way it's going to be for the rest of my life. This film will be one of the best you're likely to see this year." While that change felt good, David wanted more. Well never understand how anybody can ignore the fact that murderers are dangerous, he said. One of those forgettable pieces of solipsistic pseudo-art that is essentially just a scrapbook that was released to the public and then everyone just said it was good because no one wanted to hurt anyones feelings. They are the opposite of Shirley Jane Turner. We couldn't let the authorities who let this happen get away with it. Unidentified Man #21: (Talking in group) I know. substance to it. I only live a block away.' The Bagbys could scarcely believe. January 28, 2008: then one day I realized what it was. (A number of his male friends say that they asked, or would have asked, him to be their best man.) I'm just curious Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) Yeah, and I wanted to know for safety. HOUSE OF COMMONS UNANIMOUSLY PASSES BILL C-464. I had this overwhelming feeling. Inspired by his mother's tales of interesting medical cases and wonderful patients, Andrew decided he would be a doctor. That child was Zachary, to whom the film is addressed. Its best to watch Kuennes documentary without too much background, but the basic setup is this: On November 6, 2001, Andrew Bagbys body was found, shot five times, in a park near Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where Bagby lived. Laudable ambition, difficult to achieve. Nobody drives 16 hours after you've just broken up with them.' Also, today MP Scott Andrews of Newfoundland introduced a bill in Parliament for its first reading that proposes a modification to Canada's bail code that would justify detention in custody for a suspect who is a potential danger to their own minor children. GARDNER: (Audio recording) Yeah. We just want as many people as possible to know this story, the documentary, for the practical reasons in my fantasies, I suppose some judge, some place, actually gets it and denies bail to somebody who could kill again, said David. Kuenne began making Dear Zachary before Turner revealed her pregnancy. It didn't clue in, MORRISON: T.J. says while he was touched that she'd shown up at, the hospital, he was also a little surprised. That gave her a chance to do something useful for some people who needed it, said David. (Photo of Andrew and Kurt; Kurt editing film; collection of videotapes with, Mr. KUENNE: It was no longer just my search for what was left of, (Collection of videotapes of raw footage), Mr. KUENNE: I thought, I'm kind of the keeper of all this footage that is. David Bagby will be signing copies of Dance with the Devil on Sunday, January 20th, from 3-4 P.M. at Dolly's Bookstore, 510 Main Street, Park City, Utah. (Photos of David and Kate with Zachary; Shirley being escorted from court). Believing that even where there is evil, there is also a tremendous amount of good." Blood red screen. Shortly after his death, she fled to Canada and settled back in St. Johns. MORRISON: What do you do about this? In that time, it also becomes clear that Andrews fate is in danger of also becoming his sons. Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) (Unintelligible) Hi, sweetheart. She was, pregnant, and the baby was Andrew's. Screening next at DocuWeek, the International Documentary Association's Theatrical Documentary Showcase. In January, the film was nominated for Best Documentary by both the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Online Film Critics Society, who also nominated writer/director/composer Kurt Kuenne for Breakthrough Filmmaker of 2008. Laws governing the, rights of defendants are fairly strong in this country, but there's something, about Newfoundlanders in particular which may have contributed to the judge's, decision to grant bail. She turns to talking of her son and calls him Gods blessing. They hadn't been identified, but it's obvious who they, MORRISON: He was right. Even during his stilted summaries of events, you can sometimes hear Kuenne choking up. And we came back. Woman #9: to make that journey was awful. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. kind of panic sets in, I guess. I would have to dream up some reason to go over, there in the middle of the night, to--for me to just appear on her doorstep, Mr. BAGBY: Turned out I wasn't. especially long work day and dropped himself in front of the television. Former Assistant Pastor at Jackson Community Church. I, Mr. BAGBY: (Audio recording) Look, we will do what is best for Zachary. I just want to get through medical school.'. Click HERE for assistance. MORRISON: In July 2003, a year and eight months after their son's, murder, Andrew's friend, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, who'd been making the, documentary film for Zachary about the father he'd never know, arrived in. Add a bio, trivia, and more. In the early years, that included David writing a book, Dance With the Devil, about his sons and grandsons murders, and Kuennes documentary. Also, by popular demand, a new printing of David Bagby's book "Dance with the Devil: A Memoir of Murder and Loss" featuring Dear Zachary's poster art on its cover is now in stores. Bill C-464 was introduced in the House of Commons on October 22, 2009, passed the House of Commons unanimously on March 22nd of this year and passed the Senate of Canada last Thursday, December 9th, where it was sponsored by Senator Tommy Banks of Alberta. whose parents are charged with a violent crime. (Photo of Andrew; cell phone towers; photo of Shirley; maps; suburban street; photo of house; newspaper clipping; photo of Shirley; maps; cell phone tower; Shirley in court; court documents; flashing police lights; American flag. A judge called Andrews murder a vicious crime, but did not consider Turner a risk to others. It turns out Shirley owned a .22 caliber handgun, which she acquired while living in Iowa. MORRISON: And now that she was freed, Shirley would once again, Mr. BAGBY: We had to take him down the stairs and give him to, Shirley's friend, who happened to have a car seat. June 25, 2008: This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. Mr. SHEARS: She's kind of reliving a university life again. Please check back for updates as the bill makes its way through the Senate in the coming weeks -- and if you are a Canadian Citizen, please write your Senator to voice your support of C-464 during this crucial time. It will make you question your faith in the world. Dance with the Devil: A Memoir of Murder and Loss: (Shirley in court; Supreme Court of Newfoundland sign), Mr. BAGBY: And then they started slogging through the courts with one issue, MORRISON: In the meantime, Andrew's parents made a momentous. helped convince me that she would not hurt Zachary. MORRISON: Zachary Andrew Turner, the son of murder victim Andrew, Bagby and his accused killer Shirley Turner, was born on July 18th 2002, eight, months after the young doctor's murder. Sharing voices. We're churning. GARDNER: (Audio recording) Is this Dr. Turner? I never really convinced myself that she, could--that she would hurt Zachary. KATE: I had a great childhood. They've retired, hang out with friends and travel a bit, David Bagby said. It has been our privilege to have the trust and support of our East Coast communities for the last 200 years. MORRISON: But Shirley would make it tough for Andrew to do that. David Bagby, left, and Kate Bagby, right, celebrate with their son Andrew Bagby at his graduation from medical school at Memorial University of Newfoundland in June 2000. Kuenne is able to capture the true nature of love and dedication in a way I have never seen. Curated newsletters for curious minds. iTunes | Amazon Prime Video | Google Play, DEAR ZACHARY ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE. He had returned to the US and had discovered a passion for family practice, where his love for people--and theirs for him--seemed as natural, as comfortable as the quiet town in Pennsylvania in which he'd chosen to live. -, "You don't just view what's happening on the screen -- you live it through every gasp and every tear, and every bit of exasperated anger(resulting) in one powerful standing ovation, the likes of which I have never seen at Hot Docs beforeDear Zachary will move you. Kuennes fast-talking exposition, while confusing, seems purposeful, as though the murder were a necessary backstory to be pushed through as quickly as possible in order to get to the heart of the narrative: Andrew Bagbys life and how horrible his death was for those who loved him. Cpl. May 16, 2008: Unidentified Man #24: Two I have ever known. Either she's grabbed Zachary and taken off and she's trying to, escape, and she has a snowball's chance in hell of getting away with that. And in the meantime, without that crucial piece of evidence to charge her with Andrew's murder, Shirley Turner quietly left US soil and returned home to Newfoundland. MORRISON: Andrew Bagby. Both screenings received sustained standing ovations, and the Toronto audience applauded yet again when director Kurt Kuenne announced that he had sent letters to every member of Parliament requesting the opportunity to screen the film for them. Information on who and where to write can be found by going to the "Support Bail Reform" page. The strange allure of Robert Durst and The Jinx.. This is the kind of couple, themselves beloved by hundreds, that produces the kind of son who is beloved by hundreds. MORRISON: The Bagbys said that Shirley would later apologize for, her reaction. I think they just poured all of their love and, MORRISON: A week after Kurt's visit, Zachary turned one. Here the grandparents are making nice with the woman they believe killed their, son. The psychotic bitch.) The bullets in Bagbys body were of the same type that Turner had used at a shooting range shortly before, in a gun she had recently purchased. They still have friends in the province, people Kate said they wouldnt have survived without. I dont understand how that can be ignored.. ', Mr. SIMPSON: And I told him, I said, `You know, Andrew, when I break up with somebody and put them on a plane and send them 1300 miles away,' I said, `They knock on my front door, I'm going out the back door and I'm calling the police.' And I saw that night her malignancy. the water. They are prophecies. ', KATE: (Audio recording) Yeah. Dear Zachary will have its World Premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival, January 17-25, 2008 in Park City, Utah! MORRISON: You're in turmoil at that point. Schultz quotes the brother of Hae Min Lee, the victim of the murder at the center of the first season of Serial, responding, on Reddit, to the surge of interest in the case: I wont be answering any questions because . don't have these meltdowns and emotional scenes. I got to see what happens to the bastard who did this. This marks the first time in history an MP from Newfoundland has been able to get a private member's bill through Parliament; since 2001, 2,510 Private Member's Bills have been introduced in the House of Commons, but only 23 - less than 1% - have received Royal Assent. If you didnt realize the importance of that, Kuenne mutes the film to let you process it. GARDNER: (Audio recording) I understand that. TO ME ITS REAL LIFE. Dear Zachary avoids the first pitfall by directly confronting the second. Mr. BAGBY: He's now engaged to this lovely girl, and he's going to go to med school. I'm tired of this. The film ends with the Bagbys and their relatives, friends, and colleagues reflecting on the father and son, as well as the . We'll keep this website updated as to their progress when there is news. 7:30 I'll be at your house.'. Mr. BAGBY: Oh, this ranks right up there. Unidentified Woman #10: (Kate holding Zachary) Zachary. They are simply good people. Why don't you just take him?'. She. And then we'd do it through the lawyers. -, "To give you an idea how powerful it is, I'll just say that there was a lot of audible sobbing during the credits.and the first question in the Q&A started like this: "First of all, holy crap. We don't--we don't gush very much. Kurt is incredibly grateful for the good folks at MSNBC for making this arrangement happen. But how? Some of, those frames even at the dollar stores will say--there'll be little sayings on, Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) if you want to say `Mommy and Daddy' on a. frame and stick a picture of me and Andrew in it, I don't know. Dear Zachary recently won the Audience Award at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in Birmingham, Alabama! If Shirley, Turner had her way, they wouldn't have met Zachary at all, claiming she didn't. Previously, Kate was a Founder & Executive Director at Read More Kate Bagby's Phone Number and Email Last Update 11/14/2022 10:26 AM Email k***@mothersagainstmurder.org Engage via Email Contact Number (***) ***-**** Engage via Phone Mobile Number On December 4, 2009, Bill C-464 (our bail reform bill) was discussed on the floor of the House of Commons for a full hour, and MP Scott Andrews received unanimous support from all political parties in the House of Commons to advance the bill to the Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights. So I gave her the. (Shears; photo of Shirley, Zachary and Shears; Shears walking), Mr. SHEARS: Suddenly everything rushes into you, and you realize that she, did murder Andrew. Dear Zachary has been acquired for theatrical release and DVD distribution by the newly formed Oscilloscope Pictures, and will be released in New York on October 31st, and in Los Angeles and Chicago on November 7th. "One of the best documentaries I have ever seen in my entire life a film that will rock you to your core. On Nov. 5, Kate, who is originally from England, pictures Turner sitting on top of a Guy Fawkes bonfire and her family all around it with fireworks. Amazon | B&N He was in, Mr. SHEARS: I would cook supper sometimes when she wasn't around. Are you having a good day with grandmom and. Awaiting extradition, Turner drowned 13-month-old Zachary and took her own life as well. I had lovely family. It will have its television premiere on MSNBC this fall following a theatrical release that is currently in negotiations and expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Or it's in the car. An autopsy report would show that an anti-anxiety drug, prescribed by the very psychiatrist who put up Shirley's bail money had been, mixed into Zachary's formula. MORRISON: Life for Andrew Bagby was good. I had a son I used, (Photo of young Kate; photo of Kate and David; photo of Kate and Andrew), KATE: And then suddenly you're in the pits, and then you have to learn that, MORRISON: Two weeks after Zachary's murder, the press covered a, Mr. BAGBY: (Press conference) We believe that the legal system helped her to, MORRISON: Charging the child protection authorities dropped the, ball, and that a disastrous bail system allowed a probable first-degree, (Zachary; court document; Shirley and Andrew).