Dear Zachary is an unsettling and horrific true-crime film created by her murder victim's close friend Kurt Kuenne, which exposes the timeline of Turner's history of erratic behavior and the murders of father and son Andrew and Zachary Bagby. Luckily, they chose to go on and fight for their son, especially after finding out he had a child on the way. It also received the Special Jury and Audience Awards at the Cinequest Film Festival, was named an Audience Favorite at Hot Docs, received the Audience Awards at the St. Louis International Film Festival and the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, was named Best Documentary at the Orlando Film Festival, and was awarded the Jury Award for Best International Documentary at Docville (Belgium). But after ordering and returning items multiple times due to feeling uncomfortable in them, I realized that this wasnt my style. Dear Zachary, which unfolds chronologically,has not one but two major twists. [19], Two scholarships have been established in tribute to Andrew David Bagby and his son. "[13], Martin Tsai of the New York Sun said the film "has so many unexpected developments that it plays like a first-rate thriller. His intention was just to explore Bagbys life and interview those who knew him. With no signs of forced entry, Bagby never filed charges. She informed Bagbyshe forgot to lock the doorand needed to return so she can lock it. After Zachary's birth on 18 July 2002, Turner initially refused to allow David and Kathleen Bagby to see their grandson, fearing they would kidnap him. Though her track record showedan increasing pattern of abuse and neglect towardher family and partners, an alarming turning point in Turner's history came only when she fatally shot Andrew Bagby. The child, a boy, was born on 9 July 1982. However, in January 2003 Justice Welsh again released her, arguing that the murder "was not directed at the public at large" and that Turner was presumed to be innocent.[10]. I wish I could discuss more about the plot line, but that would be sacrificing your open mind. Dear Zachary But she does not hear the same song as me. Turner mixed a sedativeinto baby Zachary's formula and staged her car to look like her then-boyfriend was responsible for her next actions: she jumped into the Atlantic Ocean - at Conception Bay South off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada - with the baby strapped to her stomach. In my lifetime, I have watched a great number of movies like these ones which are really emotional, but the only one that has ever caused me to cry for real was the documentary titled Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, which was released in 2008. The extradition process was repeatedly prolonged by Turner's lawyers based on legal technicalities, and Turner gave birth to a boy she named Zachary on July 18, 2002. Bagbys childhood friend Kenneth Kuenne made the film as a way to document the memories of Andrews life. He went to Newfoundland and visited Zachary in July 2003. In my lifetime, I have watched a great number of movies like these ones which are really emotional, but the only one that has ever caused me to cry for real was the documentary titled Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, which was released in 2008. "[2]:454, Turner was returned to jail in November 2002 pending a decision by the federal justice minister regarding whether she should be extradited to the United States. Plus, for your first 10 articles, youll be compensated by HQ at $10/response. Bagby agreed to talk with her about the pregnancy during a wedding that Bagby was scheduled to attend. This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 14:10. [10], The Chicago Film Critics Association nominated the film for its award for Best Documentary, and the Society of Professional Journalists presented the film with its Sigma Delta Chi Award for Best Television Documentary (Network). Not only will you gain valuable writing experience, but youll get to choose your own topics and write one response a week to one of our top trending articles. I've hesitated to suggest it to a few of my more fragile friends because it is one of those films that can leave you in an emotional funk for days afterward. During the extradition process, Turner revealed she was pregnant with Bagbys child, a baby boy she named Zachary. When the child washed ashore, the man who found them wrapped Zachary in a blanket, forgoing the usual plastic bag, to keep him as far as possible from the unstable, albeit deceased, woman who took his life. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father 2008 9 Andrew Bagby, a medical student, was murdered by his girlfriend Shirley Jane Turner soon after he ended their stormy relationship in 2001. However, Turner was later released on bail after a judge ruled she was. There's no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the most intense. He always had a good taste in music and its no wonder this song was his favorite. Benefiting off of the fact her student loanswere calculated on the assumption the childrenremained in her custody, Turner often used her family as an excuse for absences during residency. The documentary Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father gathers the fragments of a true crime story about young doctor Andrew Bagby and the terrible events surrounding his death. The rays of music may salsa on her skin, but they dig deep into mine. The film ends with the Bagbys and their relatives, friends, and colleagues reflecting on the father and son, as well as the impact that Kathleen and David, who Kurt realizes the film is really for, had on all of them. 12 Documentaries With Twist Endings. When Turner visited him in Latrobe in late October 2001immediately after the last of her firearms lessons in Omahathe two frequently argued over his relationship with a new girlfriend. There was just something off about her, one family friend explains. On August 18, 2003, Turner jumped into the Atlantic Ocean with thirteen-month-old Zachary strapped to her stomach, drowning them both in a murdersuicide. Bagby's parents moved to Canada to attempt to gain custody of their grandson. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, Benefiting off of the fact her student loans. "Dear Zachary" (2008) is Kurt Kuenne's directoral debut, a homage to his murdered friend, addressed to said friend's child. The RNC arrested Turner on 12 December, the same day extradition proceedings commenced against her. For example, at Miami University, I see a lot of girls in sororities wearing similar outfits throughout the day. When this wasn't enough, she traveled to him and verbally abused him. She was released on bail in January 2003 by Judge Gale Welsh, who felt Turner did not pose a threat to society in general. Bagbys parents were forced to give Turner joint custody of Zachary. It would be insulting to Kuenne to go into this film with any preconceived notions, one simply has to experience it on their own. I wonder what its like to be free. [6] Turner gave birth to her second daughter on 8 March 1990, one year before she and her second husband separated. During one of these visits, Turner is believed to have burglarized Bagby's apartment. Before police could apprehend her, Turner moved back to St. Johns, Newfoundland, and her arrest was impeded by a complicated extradition process. Here's Why 'Dear Zachary' Is The Most Upsetting Documentary Ever Made, Dear Zachary:A Letter to a Son About His Father, Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father. "[17], David Bagby penned a book about the case, Dance with the Devil: A Memoir of Murder and Loss, which was published in 2007.[18]. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. Notall of thememories are positive, of course. The documentarys vulnerability and its uniquemix of joy and sadness remind us that some true crime stories are not just about the perpetratorsthey can also bea moving tribute to their victims. But do we really need to dress to impress? Swinging back and forth to the strums of the guitar gently echoing, she smiles. After consulting with his parents, Doucet moved to Westtown Township, Pennsylvania, United States in 1998. Best of all, you can do it all from the comfort of your own home or wherever you happen to be spending your summer. a threat to society. [8] David Bagby wrote Dance with the Devil: A Memoir of Murder and Loss, a best-seller in Canada in 2007, about his family's ordeal. It is about Kuenne's close friend Andrew Bagby, who was murdered after Bagby ended a relationship with a woman named Shirley Jane Turner. She went so far as to discharge her family law lawyer because of his positive attitude towards the Bagbys. Thepair were together for a while back in the States, but theirrelationship soon grew rocky. Turner alternately told her shooting instructor that her gun had been stolen. Dear Zachary Hear me out. The police discovered through phone records that Turner had returned to Pennsylvania the day before the murder. Well send you all the relevant quizzes, articles, polls, and news you could want to your inbox. Her boyfriend is called Victor and they both love listening to The Cure, reading Byron, and gazing upon William Blake prints. Dear Zachary document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WatchDocumentaries.com | Games | Quizzes | Contact |Privacy & Terms | Manage Cookies |Advertise | DMCA, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. Even if it doesn't send you bawling like me, you will feel a whole range of emotions: sadness, anger, disgust, impatience, injustice, despair. Jeffrey Epsteins unredacted flight log finally uncovered, Here's why Dayana Espinoza is an actor to watch. The case was closed on 11 January 1994 without an interview with Turner. I'm grateful this story was told, even if it was painful to experience. Backpacking across Europe? A 2006 inquiry found serious shortcomings in how the province's social services system handled the case, suggesting that the judges, prosecutors, and child welfare agencies involved were more concerned with presuming Shirley's innocence than with protecting Zachary. Documentary Biography Crime A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son. Near the end of his time at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Bagby began a relationship with Shirley Turner, a twice-divorced recent graduate of MUN's medical school who was nearly thirteen years his senior. On November 3, 2001, Bagby broke up with Turner at the end of a visit she made to Pennsylvania. After Canadian mother killed herself and The speed at which Kuenne rushes through the details of the case would not do at all for any professional true-crime documentary set to lure in an audience with gruesome facts. It was determined that Zachary Turner was rendered unconscious by the lorazepam and did not suffer. But heres the plot. Want to spend your summer being creative and making some money on the side? Its not technically the most impressive documentary film, but the subject matter is powerful-enough that you cannot help but be deeply impacted by the story. When police obtained a warrant for Turners arrest, she fled the States, back to Canada. The result is one of the saddest movies of all time (even the trailer will make you weep) and one of the most disturbing documentaries ever, so grab a box of tissues and read on to relive some of themost compelling aspects of Dear Zachary. You may even be procrastinating right now while you read this article! In October 2006, Winnipeg-based coroner Peter Markesteyn released the Turner Review and Investigation, which concluded that Zachary's death was preventable and criticised Newfoundland and Labrador's social services system for failing to protect the child from his mother, stating, "Nowhere did I find any ongoing assessment of the safety needs of the children." Released in 2008, the filmmakes the cut as one ofthe greatest documentaries of all time. The pair dated and were sexually intimate on two occasions afterward. The man contacted the RNC on three occasions to complain about Turner's harassment, which both violated the terms of her bail and was considered grounds to lose custody of Zachary. This decision was made with thepublic knowledgethat Turner had attempted to take her life on Andrew's front porch, was on suicide watch in jail, and at the time had eight orders ofrestraint against her. Kurt Kuenne is an award-winning filmmaker and composer of both fiction and documentary films. Bagbys parents were forced to give Turner joint custody of Zachary. [17] On October 23, 2009, MP Scott Andrews of Avalon, moved after attending a screening of the film,[10] introduced Bill C-464 (also known as "Zachary's Bill") to the House of Commons of Canada. Turner left her car parked near his home in the Kelligrews area of the town, with photographs of herself and Zachary, as well as a used tampon, on the front seat. "Dear Zachary" (2008) is Kurt Kuenne's directoral debut, a homage to his murdered friend, addressed to said friend's child. She even meant to implicate her brief lover by planting aused tampon and photos of herself and her child across his lawn in Connection Bay South before she didit. The next twist is like a punch to the gut. In October 2001, Turner obtained a permit to buy a firearm and purchased a Phoenix Arms HP22 handgun and .22 ammunition, which she used during firearms lessons. Turner subsequently made a total of 200 threatening phone calls to the man over the following month. Shortly after she was arrested, she announced that she was pregnant with his child, whom she named Zachary. Knowing his grandson was in danger in the care of Turner, who repeatedly established how unfit she was to be a mother, David lay in bed at night thinking of what he could do to save the child. From a young age, girls are introduced to a culture where they are expected to dress to impress specifically the men around them. So Kurt set out to make a documentary about his beloved lost friend. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. WebTheres no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the most intense. Magnolia Pictures. Dear Zachary is the only film that has made me cry. - Elliot V. Kotek, Moving Pictures Magazine The couplingdidnt make sense to Bagbys friends. Cataloging the most poignantDear Zachary moments may seem like a fool's errand, but to do so is to engage directly with the documentary's most troubling content. Bagby acted in many of Kuenne's amateur movies and, as these films became more professional in quality, he invested in them with some of the money he was saving up for medical school. Dear Zachary is beloved among the true-crime documentary community for being honest, heart-felt, infuriating, and devastating. Bringingattention to this film, after all,supports the cause of Kate and David Bagby, who, since becoming activists for bail reform, have helpedshepherdseveral positive changes to the Canadian legal system. A Timeline Of The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named the film one of the five top documentaries of 2008. When I saw the title, next to a 94 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I wasnt convinced. Poor attempt at coping with finals, but hey, you can't think about that biology exam anymore, you're just numbing your pain. But heres the plot. I hear the last words of the song and I lift my head cautiously. She dances, but she does not hear the same song as me. It was concluded thather eldest daughter and son were often left unattended for days on end, and -when Turner was home -she would strike them with a variety of objects, ranging from open hands to belts. The psychiatrist later filed a report with social services, and Turner's children confirmed the allegations. Dear Zachary Dear Zachary The conception of Zachary came shortly after this phone call. I wonder how strong a feeling can actually get before it is too much to bear. When negative items would come up[,] she would change the topic to one of my failings. You will want to do something because this film will ignite a fire within you, about injustice and family. Turner wrote to the judge who locked her up and, contrary to normal legal procedure, received advice on how to appeal her arrest and imprisonment. Andrew was never late, the friend said. On November 4, 2006, Dr. Andrew Bagby broke up with his girlfriend, Dr. Shirley Turner. Turner,still unwilling to leave him alone, went to his home and attempted an elaborate and psychologically disturbing suicide. In November 1997, Turner confronted him in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and struck him in the jaw with her high-heeled shoe. I feel my stomach drop like Im on a rollercoaster that only seems to go down. [4] The case led to the passage of Bill C-464, or Zachary's Bill, strengthening the conditions for bail in Canadian courts in cases involving the well-being of children. 12 Documentaries With Twist Endings While attendingmedical school,Andrew Bagby began dating Turner, who was 12 years older than him. After Doucet broke up with Turner and moved elsewhere in Newfoundland, she began inundating him with phone calls. [3] When Turner learned she was a suspect in the murder investigation, she fled home to St. John's, Newfoundland. The case led to a critical overview of Newfoundland's legal and child welfare systems as well as Canada's bail laws. Yes! WebDear Zachary is a documentary, and there is a fallacy about documentaries that this one proves wrong- that they are all logic and lack heart. The goal of the bill was to protect children and force "judicial decision makers" to keep the safety of children in mind during bail hearings and in custody disputes, particularly when a child is in the custody of someone who has been charged with a "serious crime". WebThe case led to the passage of Bill C-464, or Zachary's Bill, strengthening the conditions for bail in Canadian courts in cases involving the well-being of children. Little did I know this documentary would send me into a fit of hyperventilation and ugly crying. And she dances. Nobody from the department of social services contacted Turner, and the case was dropped on January 11, 1994. WebDear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a 2008 American documentary film written, produced, directed, edited, and scored by Kurt Kuenne. A portion of the film also shows Kuenne meeting Zachary in Newfoundland in July 2003 to celebrate his first birthday, one month before his death; Shirley Turner is present during the visit, but Kuenne avoids her. Andrew told a friend he was going to meet Shirleythe following day to finally end things. The deaths of Andrew Bagby and Zachary Turner became the basis for the 2008 documentary film Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, directed by Kurt Kuenne. In 2009, after watching the film Canadian MP Scott Andrews introduced Bill C-464 (also known as "Zachary's Bill") to the Parliament of Canada. I am sorry I cannot say more about this film without ruining its unique premise. Others included falsely taking the child and moving around the USunder assumed identities. Although its hard to watch, its a must-see. Clare Regelbrugge, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. Turner later drove home and left a message on Bagby's answering machine. Such was introduced on March 23rd, 2010, and Zacharys Bill was signed into law two years after the release of Kuennes documentary. What could have beena dry analysis ofa broken justice system is instead a deeply touching commentary on love and friendship. Meanwhile, Turner exhibited possessive behavior towards Bagby and harassed him over the phone. A Timeline Of The Horrific Case Behind 'Dear Zachary'. ", Is there a greater nightmare than people hinting that your child is gone but not confirming it? [21], In December 2019,[22] a digitally remastered "10th Anniversary Edition" of Dear Zachary was released on DVD and Blu-ray. [9] David and Kathleen Bagby moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, in order to fight for custody of their son's child, while Turner eventually moved into her own apartment on Pleasant Street in St. John's. [21], The Chicago Film Critics Association nominated Dear Zachary for its Best Documentary award, and the Society of Professional Journalists presented the film with its Sigma Delta Chi Award for Best Documentary. Kuenne adds his own memories to the film, along with his anger & grief over the senseless crime. Dear Zachary Dear Zachary, which unfolds chronologically, has not one but two major twists. The fact that such a brief relationshipwasall it took to push her over the edgeisa testament to how surprising it was that a judge let her walk free with custody. 10 Haunting Documentaries You simply must see this film." It's widely believed that if she hadn't been released, Zachary would probably still be alive today. Exploring different styles is important, but finding clothes that you feel most comfortable and confident in is even more significant. [2]:494[3] At the time, Shirley had been released on bail and awarded custody of the infant, even though she was in the process of being extradited to the United States to stand trial for the murder of Zachary's father, Andrew David Bagby. Her hobbies are: reading about science, doing experiments, and travelling. Maybe it's being told your son was taken from you and then, with no consolation, immediately asking questions as to why he was where he was when he passed? Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father 2008 9 Andrew Bagby, a medical student, was murdered by his girlfriend Shirley Jane Turner soon after he ended their stormy relationship in 2001. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society2. Your friends are all done with their finals and you still have one more to go. and the film is so unsettling that it will stay with viewers for a long time. Released in 2008, the film makes the cut as one of the greatest documentaries of all time. After themurder, Turner, now accused of killing Andrew, announces she is four months pregnant with Andrews child. Turner, however, ended up making off with a large stash of Bagby's personal belongings. Turner made the travel to visit Bagby seven times, whilehe came to see her only once. Markesteyn specifically cited poor communication between social services officials, who worked on the presumption of Turner's innocence throughout the case and became more concerned for her welfare than for Zachary's.
