Bring lots of kleenex and prepare to be equally angry and emotionally drained as you watch real, so-called justice in action. Shirley Turner, awaiting, extradition for murder, was out of prison on bail. After arriving home, she drove 900 miles back to Pennsylvania to kill the man who rejected her. In the, tribute documentary their son's best friend Kurt Kuenne was making to someday, give Zachary, the Bagbys' friends recount how difficult it was for David and. Yeah, I mean, I can watch that for sure. Did anyone have more friends than he? Dear Zachary is as devastating as it is because it unravels the way bad things unravel in real life. Mr. BAGBY: We fret and worried and everything. And so he set out to collect the memories of Andrew's family and giant circle of friends. MORRISON: The ammunition used to kill Andrew was CCI .22 caliber bullets. Laudable ambition, difficult to achieve. (It was announced, in 2014, that the documentary would be made into a miniseries. The bond between, Zachary and his grandparents grew and grew, and Shirley noticed, even from, KATE: (Audio recording) I think it was one time we were on the phone or, KATE: (Audio recording) Yeah, the baby cried, and I said, `Oh, there's my, Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) Yeah, `Oh, my baby. Then, in August 2003, Shirley killed herself and the one-year-old Zachary by jumping into the Atlantic Ocean. This documentary starts out like a love letter. Andrew was found dead Nov. 5, 2001 in a state park just outside Latrobe, PA, where he was a resident in the local hospitals family medicine programme. I sat there. KEITH MORRISON reporting: He was everybody's idea of the perfect best man. Or was this her, way of demanding that they suspend their critical faculties and declare their, Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) I don't know what to give Zachary. Mr. BAGBY: We were out shopping or something. "This is the purest, most intensely raw film I have ever seen of any kind, dramatic or nonfiction. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. thing, because up until Andrew was murdered, I was a Pollyanna. Well, you dont have to look far, said Dr. T. Clark Simpson, who worked with Bagby. I kind of need to move on from that because, like I. said, I'm a Bagby male. The Bagbys, who recently marked their 50th wedding anniversary, say it sustained them for nearly a decade as they struggled to come to terms first with the 2001 slaying of their 28-year-old son, Dr. Andrew Bagby, and later with the murder of Andrew's son, 13 . Dear Zachary recently won the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Best Documentary of 2008 from the Society of Professional Journalists. will not hurt Zachary, period. murderer in check. 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 . Its not the sort of true crime that leaves you wanting more. You will cry. Much of this DATELINE report incorporates material from Kurt's documentary, as well as something else: the childhood films he made as he taught himself his craft. granddad? Mr. KUENNE: He liked playing bad guys a lot. We had to pack up Zachary, Mr. BAGBY: We just climbed right back upstairs and went to bed and melted. It was for custody of their grandchild who looked exactly like his father that they moved to the city of their sons killer. In the early years, that included David writing a book, Dance With the Devil, about his sons and grandsons murders, and Kuennes documentary. Mr. SHEARS: Mm, yeah. -, "This documentary will rip out your heart and leave you in the snow without a sweater. 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. 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. contributed by david and kate bagby. GARDNER: (Audio recording) Yeah. MORRISON: Zachary fell asleep in his car seat. March 18, 2008: This abridged version was prepared personally by Kurt Kuenne in order to comply with CBC Newsworld's time constraints but preserve the film's impact while reaching a wider audience in Canada. A few weeks after, Zachary's birthday party, the Bagbys and Shirley took the toddler swimming, an, activity he usually enjoyed. MORRISON: Andrew's best friend, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, suddenly, just knew what he had begun as a small film to memorialize his old friend. Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) That you aren't trying to take my place. 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. Simpson advised his friend to call the cops and to not under any circumstances meet Shirley Jane Turner alone. "One of the best documentaries I have ever seen in my entire life a film that will rock you to your core. The album includes "Andrew", the 8 minute concert work Kurt wrote and recorded in Andrew's memory in 2002. Click here for ticket information! a--with a hand grenade in the kitchen with the pin already pulled. "There, is no indication of a psychological disorder that would give concern about, potential harm to the public generally as her crime, while violent, was, specific in nature." They held their breath. I mean, we would never, disagree with her or fight with her about anything unless there was real. Except this story is worse. They began a drawn-out court battle to protect their grandson from the woman who had almost certainly murdered their son. Coverage from the 2023 Canada Winter Games, VIDEO: Your daily elite-sports highlight package, Making Canada Better: Atlantic Canadians striving for change, 2023 SaltWire Network. All rights reserved, Click here for information on becoming a member. Kuenne finished his documentary and dedicated it to the memories of both Bagby and Zachary. 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. Mr. BAGBY: We first got to see him personally in family court. This film will be one of the best you're likely to see this year." The full hour will not be available online. Click HERE for ticket information. Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) I was really upset when you took him today, because I feel like I did the day you saw him at Unified Family Court. Now armed with a powerful tool, "Dear Zachary: A Letter, to a Son about his Father," the tribute film Kurt Kuenne started making, first. One of the first to meet Zachary was, (Photo of Zachary Turner; wedding dance; photo of Shirley and Zachary; photo. MORRISON: The girl was Heather, also an aspiring doctor. It has been our privilege to have the trust and support of our East Coast communities for the last 200 years. The Bagbys attended the hearing, of course, and, could not quite believe their ears when they heard the judge's ruling. Our 100 journalists strive to inform and improve our East Coast communities by delivering impartial, high-impact, local journalism that provokes thought and action. MORRISON: Was it reasonable for the court to trust her? Was it a tight bond? I was just gone. 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. KATE: It was shocking, but not a surprise. No less than seven of those friends had asked Bagby to be the best man at their weddings. Its heartbreaking, said Kate, who recalls last seeing Zachary the evening before he was killed. They quit their jobs and moved from California to Newfoundland. (Shirley and Zachary at birthday party; birthday party), KATE: He didn't want to open presents, you know, he wanted to get, down. Why? Right? Kuenne, a childhood friend of Andrews, started out to make the movie as a tribute to Andrew, but it kept taking on new meanings, first with Zacharys birth and then his death. And I prayed to God to be looking after him. MORRISON: What did you think when you heard that? They could check cell towers then, but only manually. Andrew's parents say he tried, frequently, to ease out of the relationship altogether, but Shirley wouldn't buy it. 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. Kate to keep up their end of that bargain. Do you understand? It wasn't just to monitor the, extradition process. (Canadian flags; Newfoundland; lake and coast; man in coat; photos of Shirley, and Zachary; Kate, David and Zachary; Shirley, Kate and Zachary; Supreme Court, building; photos of David, Kate, Zachary and Shirley), Mr. BAGBY: Dealing with Turner was like, I don't know, walking around with. Why don't you just take him?'. We urge everyone to write your MP (if Canadian) or the Attorney General of Canada (if not) urging them to support MP Andrews and his bill as it moves toward a vote in the near future. prayed that his murderer, whoever it was, would be swiftly brought to justice. Highlights from the week in culture, every Saturday. 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. HEATHER: You are the most amazing, strongest people I've ever. . Mr. SHEARS: It seemed like it to me, yeah. She just dropped to the floor and laid down, and, I went down after her. get in there, if that's what she demanded. She has to veer away from the image and instead see him as a living being. Bagby, that man about whom no one had a bad word, was left lying face down in a Pennsylvania state park with five bullets in him. helped convince me that she would not hurt Zachary. Unidentified Man #22: We will develop policy specific to children. A 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-Ray and DVD with special artwork and packaging is available only from Oscilloscope Laboratories at the link below. Unidentified Man #21: (Talking in group) I know. The bill has added an amendment to Canada's criminal code giving courts the right to refuse bail to someone charged with a serious crime who is deemed a potential danger to children under the age of 18. Click HERE for ticket information. He said, `What can happen?'. Parents Kate and David Bagby's story of identifying Andrew's body is devastating. MORRISON: Even more, the Bagbys' gloom was mixed with worry. She was here.' And she followed Andrew to St. John's.. Amazon | B&N Senator Tommy Banks of Alberta will be the bill's sponsor in the Senate, and will shortly be distributing DVDs of "Dear Zachary" to all members of the Senate, just as he and MP Andrews distributed the film to all members of the House of Commons last fall when he introduced the bill. GARDNER: (Audio recording) Is this Dr. Turner? The film is by the phenomenal writer, director and composer Kurt Kuenne. Mommy loves you. An unusually personal and powerful story of a murder, it may offer something of a counterweight to the forces of bias and prurience that often pull the genre off-track. Or it's in the car. CONTRIBUTED BY DAVID AND KATE BAGBY Sixteen years have passed but for the Bagbys the story of the deaths of their only son and grandson resurfaces all the time. (David speaking to reporters; Kate speaking to reporters; David on radio show; "Dear Zachary" poster; Kurt editing video; photo of Andrew; photo of Zachary; Mr. KUENNE: I almost gave up making this film when you were, killed. Six-month-old Zachary was, returned to her. . Both screenings were sold out and received sustained standing ovations, an exceptionally rare event in the 14 year history of Slamdance. to live with his father in a tiny coastal village hundreds of miles away. He said, `What do you mean?' 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. It's great. But something kept me going, and. This film wasn't made to win awards, or, for that matter, even be criticized. Turner - the son of Andrew Bagby whom she gave birth to after Bagby's death. We couldnt actually believe shed (harm Zachary), but we consciously feared she could do that, he said. It also recently screened at the Calgary International Film Festival and the Edmonton International Film Festival to standing ovations from Canadian audiences, where it inspired many audience members to write their Parliament in support of bail reform. A Kate Bagby is an Advisory Member at Mothers Against Murder based in Los Altos, California. In the course of the next two yearsas Turners extradition process dragged on, as Bagbys parents moved from California to Newfoundland to fight for custody of the baby, and as the case eventually took an even more terrible turnthe film came to be about those events as well. 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. (Shears; photo of Shirley, Zachary and Shears; Shears walking), Mr. SHEARS: Suddenly everything rushes into you, and you realize that she, did murder Andrew. Kate Bagby feels her son was too trusting to agree to meet Turner at the park the day he was killed. Shirley asked them to take custody of Zachary while she was gone. (David; Kate and Zachary; Shirley and Zachary). The Bagbys, who recently marked their 50th wedding anniversary, say it sustained them for nearly a decade as . 2015 - 20153 . Mr. SIMPSON: He said, `You'll never guess who showed up on my doorstep at 5:30.' 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. That one comes back a lot. -, "It's Kate and David Bagby who are the moral center of this film. And we came back. Mr. KUENNE: (Kate holding Zachary) Hello, bud. She. What kind of headfuck must that be? MORRISON: Andrew's body was discovered the following morning with bullets lodged in his face, buttock, chest, the back of his head. One contains the remains of their son, Dr. Andrew Bagby. Unidentified Woman #12: We won't forget their son. MORRISON: Coming up, a knock at the door, and then the news. 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. he was fussy at all. It also took 3rd place in the National Headliner Awards for Best Documentary of 2008, given by the Press Club of Atlantic City. They told us that they'd found the body. I praise Kurt Kuenne for having the heart and determination to perfectly put together one of the most powerful documentaries I have ever watched. 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. kind of panic sets in, I guess. MORRISON: So different from who Andrew really was, a kind, devoted son who made Eagle Scout at 15. 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. We couldn't let the authorities who let this happen get away with it. Mr. BAGBY: That's one of the options, and that's the one we hoped for. ', KATE: He's so loved. This is the kind of couple, themselves beloved by hundreds, that produces the kind of son who is beloved by hundreds. MORRISON: Shirley also claimed to have been at home in Iowa, sick in bed the day of the murder. She called trying to get Andrew when he was here doing a rotation here in California. I said, `When do you think you'll be done?' And I know, you love me, and--yeah. (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. And tears are dropping on him, of course, and Kate went to wipe one of those away off his cheek, and a plug came out, where hed been shot in the left cheek. 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. The International Film Music Critics also nominated his musical score for Best Documentary Score of 2008. Newfoundland to meet the now 11-month-old little boy. MP Andrews was spurred on to the creation of this bill after seeing "Dear Zachary" at a March screening in Ottawa to which all Members of Parliament were invited. MORRISON: Coming up, Andrew dead. His father says, I kissed him and held him. MORRISON: Andrew Bagby. MORRISON: And, says T.J., in the way of her opportunities to be. -, "urgent, furiousadmirably well editedthis incredible, well-researched documentary demonstrates the vast gulf one life can leave behind." To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) He is too happy, Kathleen. KATE: So this man said to me, `Do you know that Shirley Turner's pregnant with your son's child? I, Mr. BAGBY: (Audio recording) Look, we will do what is best for Zachary. Man #26: and for having the strength to make it through, Unidentified Man #27: With what you've been through, to still be, carrying on, still to hold your heads up and keep going and pushing forward is, (Kate and David; photo of David and Kate), Unidentified Woman #13: I think God put some people down on Earth, Mr. A. BAGBY: (Wedding video) We're brothers, and I love you. We would've done handstands and cartwheels to. KATE: And so she said, `Oh, take him and get him dressed,' to me. I don't know how else to say it except they are grown-ups: they are funny, but serious; playful, but organized. (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. It comes down to probable cause, the right to bail and the presumption of innocence. Still grieving the death of their son, the Bagbys moved to Newfoundland and fought for custody of Zachary. Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) Are you sure? ', Because I know you would be worried if we disappeared for a couple of days or, MORRISON: Was she planning something? (Newspaper rack; photo of Shirley and Zachary), Mr. BAGBY: (Press conference) I am going to continue to scream long and loud, MORRISON: The Bagbys have continued a campaign for the overhaul, of the bail system. GARDNER: (Audio recording) Yes, ma'am, I am. But they also contribute to the feeling of watching something urgent and unmediated. Well never understand how anybody can ignore the fact that murderers are dangerous, he said. He was the whole world to them. 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. ', MORRISON: When Dr. Andrew Bagby's bullet-riddled corpse was, found in a Pennsylvania state park in November 2001, his devastated parents. Memorial University Medical School. 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. Mr. BAGBY: He's now engaged to this lovely girl, and he's going to go to med school. But their efforts to. Mr. SHEARS: She's kind of reliving a university life again. Kurt Kuenne's acclaimed orchestral score for "Dear Zachary", nominated for Best Documentary Score of 2008 by the International Film Music Critics Association, is now available on CD and for digital download. Shortly after his death, she fled to Canada and settled back in St. Johns. Andrew, despite his obvious abilities, was turned down by every medical school in the country. The next, hearing in the extradition process was set for September, at which time they. Mr. BAGBY: Shirley killed Andrew. Unidentified Woman #10: (Kate holding Zachary) Zachary. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008) 1 Video. There were moments when something happened that had my heart beating so fast I became lightheaded and had to refocus myself. This is what that fucking bitch didnt know, David Bagby fumes towards the end of Dear Zachary. And when, after his first year at med school, Heather broke off the engagement, Andrew was crushed. report that concluded the child protection system failed Zachary Turner. Mommy misses you. We send a huge thanks to MP Scott Andrews, his assistant Ken Carter, MP Peter Stoffer, Senator Tommy Banks, his assistant Thrse Gauthier, Gord McIntosh and all those in Parliament who have seen across party lines and supported this bill to honor Andrew & Zachary and help prevent a recurrence of our story. And Turner had said he was a, MORRISON: But there were some caveats. 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. You are born, you grow up, you make friends, you get a job, a partner, a house, maybe a car, maybe a kid, maybe more. If I, just kill her, Zachary will be safe. After the pregnancy came to light, the film became a way to introduce Zachary to his father. whose parents are charged with a violent crime. This report aired Dateline Friday, July 23. She was, pregnant, and the baby was Andrew's. And that was midafternoon. Said, `Oh, no, I really can't.'. Digital: iTunes | Amazon | Google Play, Order David Bagby's book On a shelf in the California home of David and Kate Bagby, sitting inconspicuously among some lovely china, are two urns. They should have been given custody of Zachary to begin with. Kate and David Bagby traveled to Ottawa last week to speak as witnesses for the bill before the House's Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights. MORRISON: It was November 2001 when Dr. Andrew Bagby, 28 years old, was found in hospital scrubs lying facedown in the state park in Derry Township, Pennsylvania. Oh, my God. 1 Photo. Mr. SIMPSON: I said, `Do not meet her in private.' The documentary was originally released in 2008. MORRISON: And ultimately she sent him away, with no forewarning. 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. MORRISON: A couple of hours later, there was another knock at the, Mr. BAGBY: Told us what happened. Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) It's either in my closet or my bedroom. Kurt Kuennes 2008 documentary, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, deserves a second look, especially in light of the recent popularity of true-crime programs like Serial and Making a Murderer., Photograph courtesy Oscilloscope Pictures / Everett. We're churning. They might as well have sent a taxi to her to help take him out and drown him. The strange allure of Robert Durst and The Jinx.. While the police investigation was still underway, Turner, a Canadian citizen, packed off to St. Johns, Newfoundland. On Aug. 18, 2003, while awaiting extradition to the U.S. on a charge of murdering Andrew, Turner jumped into the waters of Conception Bay South with her 13-month-old son strapped to her in a murder-suicide. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. KATE: You get a different kind of relationship with God after this kind of. 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. By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Gruesome details, abstruse discoveries, and personal secrets are examined with a seemingly cold and impartial eye in the light of the promise that, if seen rightly, they can yield up a picture of the truth. MORRISON: And then, in the spring of 1995, Andrew found someone, a Newfoundlander, also a doctor in training, a woman named Shirley Turner. Unidentified Man #25: I love them very much. 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. And I, wanted to scream, `My son's life is on hold forever, and you have the audacity, to apologize to this accused murderer?' He couldve introduced his friends death any way he wanted, and he went with this, with a kid who can barely pronounce the word killed asking why one of daddys friends has ended up that way. Ms. TURNER: (Audio recording) Then I can't consent to more time right now. We did have him for a little while, she said. After Zacharys death, the Bagbys began a quest to have Canadas bail laws changed. And then, November 2001, Andrew Bagby was shot dead in a state park not far from the hospital in which the young doctor was a resident, and his devoted parents all but lost the will to live. hoped Shirley Turner would be returned to the US to face a murder trial. I knew, exactly what my son looked at before he died. Not too long ago? KATE: I had a great childhood. You know when you see pictures of some of your friends and then pictures of their parents as kids and they look identical? Dear Zachary recently won the Audience Award at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in Birmingham, Alabama! Blu-Ray | DVD, BLU-RAY
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