In this brutally tragic true story a Father (David Bagby, author) and Mother deal with the slaying of their son by his ex-girlfriend. A judge called Andrews murder a vicious crime, but did not consider Turner a risk to others. Those who have worked through some of the grief try to instil in them there is some kind of life after loss. Just five months after Zacharys birth, Turner returned to jail, only to be released once again by the same judge, who argued that she didnt need to be held behind bars because the murder she was accused of was not directed at the public at large., Related: 12 Harrowing Books About Cults and Survival. Rebeca's Bakery, WEB DEVELOPMENT & DIGITAL MEDIA Website DesignHosting Website Optimization (SEO) Social Media Management Sponsored Content Analytic Evaluation Newsletter Marketing, OUR PUBLICATIONSCannabis ChronicleEast BayEast Bay ExpressGood Times Santa CruzHealdsburg TribuneHollister Free Lance King City RustlerLos GatanMarin Pacific Sun Metro Silicon Valley Morgan Hill Times North Bay BohemianPress BannerSalinas Valley TribuneSouth Valley Watsonville Pajaronian, COMPANY INFOJob OpportunitiesJournalism Awards. I haven't read this book yet but I have seen the documentary Dear Zachary. Watching the documentary brings up a mix of feelings from joy to hatred. ItsaCheckmate. [16] The provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador accepted the report's conclusions and its 29 recommendations. The support of their loved ones pulled them back from the edge, but the situation continued to get more twisted. David Bagby wrote a book, "Dance With the Devil: A Memoir of Murder and Loss," in 2007; a documentary film, "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About his Father" was made by Andrew's longtime friend Kurt Kuenne in 2008, with the Bagbys' participation. [6] Turner gave birth to her second daughter on 8 March 1990, one year before she and her second husband separated. Since this was written by the first victim's father, little to no backstory was provided for the accused murderer. David Bagby IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Play trailer 2:39 Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008) 1 Video 1 Photo Help contribute to IMDb. That gave her a chance to do something useful for some people who needed it, said David. And Im blessed to have David and quite frankly David is blessed to have me, said Kate. Despite the distance between states, Turner and Bagby initially tried to maintain a long-distance relationship. Three years later, Turner and her second husband divorced, and she was granted custody of their daughter. Its heartbreaking, said Kate, who recalls last seeing Zachary the evening before he was killed. Date of Death: November 5, 2001. Theyve had the conversation over the years about how they feel about the place where they made good friends, but that is tied forever to their family tragedy. After a short stint in a women's facility during the attempted murder proceedings, Turner was released on $75,000 bail. Its been more than 10 years since the Bagbys have been back to Newfoundland and Labrador. INFORMATION Contact Us Letter to the Editor Press Release Privacy Policy Terms of Service, NEWSLocal NewsBusinessCrimeSchoolsPolitics, SPORTS Sports News High School Sports Gavilan College, CALENDAR All Upcoming EventsToday's EventsSubmit an EventPromote Your Event, OBITUARIES Turnerwas returned to jail late that year awaiting a decision on extradition to the States, but was released on bail a couple of months later by an Appeal Court judge who decidedTurnerwasnt a risk to the general population. Yes,Shirley Turner should have been innocent until proven guilty, but to be out on parole( with her sureties only needing to provide their signatures and not a red cent,another crime towards the innocent!!) In March 1996, Turner began a relationship with a St. John's resident, Miles Doucet, who was thirteen years her junior. Andrew had broken off the relationship, and at the time of his murder,Turnerwas living in Iowa, but visiting Pennsylvania regularly, where Andrew was a resident at a local hospital. 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. Then, 8.5 months after Andrew Bagby was murdered - July 18, 2002 - Turner gave birth to a boy, who she named Zachary Turner. Forensic analysis showed that five bullets, fired at point blank range, ended his life. This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 05:40. The Bagbys moved their lives from Silicon Valley to Newfoundland to raise their grandson while Turner was in and out of police custody and up for extradition to the United States. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. (HTTP response code 503). We cant do that anymore, David Bagby said, explaining in part its because of their age. He was the only child of David Franklin and Kathleen Daphne Bagby. Two years later, she gave birth to a daughter. Turner killed herself and Zachary before she could be tried for murder. 03.10. best scope for savage mark ii 22lr. Our dreams for your future are all lost, but our love endures and we await reunion with you and your Dad, ends the in memoriam from Grandma and Grandpa Bagby recognizing the anniversary of the Zacharys 2003 murder. The film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, and was broadcast by MSNBC on 7 December 2008. And now I want to read the book. It has been our privilege to have the trust and support of our East Coast communities for the last 200 years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS. David and Kate Bagby channeled their grief & anguish into changing some Canadian laws. One of the most heart-wrenching books I have ever read. Except he picked up as this reporter was leaving a voicemail explaining the call from Newfoundland to Sunnyvale, Calif. A heartbreaking in memoriam for Bagby and his wife Kates grandchild, Zachary Andrew, has been published in The Telegram. The apparent murder-suicide ended the life of 13-month-old Zachary Turner, the only remaining piece of Andrew Bagby and the love of Kate and David Bagbys lives. There are so many questions raised:why was there no psychological profile done on Turner as she awaited trial?Why did child protection services not do their job and protect ( or even follow closely) Zachary? The Bagbys were compelled to ensure what happened to their son and grandson never happens again. Though the Bagbys story isnt over, the love of friends and their work to spare the next family from a similar struggle keeps them going. (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 they struggled to come to terms first with the 2001 slaying of their 28-year-old son,. There's no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary:A Letter to a Son About His Fatheris one of the most intense. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father: Directed by Kurt Kuenne. The case led to a critical overview of Newfoundland's legal and child welfare systems as well as Canada's bail laws. Subscribe here. In one of the film's many shocking turns,it's revealed Turner was pregnant with Andrew's child when she took his life, and much of the film follows the efforts of Andrew's parents, Kate and David Bagby, to gain custody of the young child, Zachary. His body was discovered . I read on Netflix it's best you know nothing about the story, and that is so true. That same year, Turner started dating Andrew Bagby. 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. [2]:494 Turner drowned. By the time investigators issued a warrant for Turners arrest, she had fled the country and returned to her home province of Newfoundland. Was inspired to read this book after watching the horrifying documentary "Dear Zachary". drowning of his grandson at the hands of the same woman isnt a In August 2000, Turner moved to Sac City, Iowa, to begin work for Trimark Physicians Corporation. If such laws had been in place, Zachary Turner would be 6 years old and wrapping up first grade. I agree whole heartedly, that things need to change. Asked if he would have done anything different back then, David replies, kill Shirley Turner.. His arguments towards the refusal of parole for alleged murderers is superb and really shows how idiotic the laws can be. [7] By Turner's account, she visited Bagby's residence in Syracuse seven times while he visited her once in Sac City. Doucet said he was "disappointed" by the verdict, while David Bagby stated that he was happy with the precedent his case would be setting. A few months after Bagbys death, Turner gave birth to their son, whom she named Zachary. -Managed leading Egyptian companies' accounts with the firm, including in the oil and gas, financial, consumer goods, real estate and automotive sectors. The Bagbys moved their lives from Silicon Valley to Newfoundland to raise their grandson while Turner was in and out of police custody and up for extradition to the United States. Bagby came from Sunnyvale, California, and was the son of Kathleen Daphne Bagby (ne Barnard), a registered nurse and midwife from Chatham, England, United Kingdom; and David Franklin Bagby, an American former United States Navy serviceman and computer engineer. You have entered an incorrect email address! When negative items would come up[,] she would change the topic to one of my failings. I don't think I could have done what they did. 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. Acting on statements by Simpson and others, the Pennsylvania State Police contacted Turner. He had been shot five times in the face, chest, buttocks, and the back of the head. A tragedy that could have been prevented. When confronted with this evidence, Turner claimed that she met with Bagby at Keystone State Park but that he put the gun in his trunk. On 10 July 2001, less than a year into her ten-year contract with Trimark, Turner left their Sac City clinic and moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she was hired by Alegent Health System of Omaha, Nebraska. He was a man whose smiling eyes and kind heart put friends, colleagues and strangers at ease. Later, a Derry resident reported having seen Bagby's Toyota Corolla parked next to Turner's RAV4 ten minutes after Bagby made his last phone call to Simpson and the Corolla parked alone the following morning. 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 . [13], On 3 May 2006, a disciplinary board convened by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador found Doucet guilty of professional misconduct for his involvement in helping to post Turner's $75,000 bail. On several occasions, it was noted that Zachary had poor attachment to his mother and preferred the company of other adults, particularly his grandparents. People see this film and realize that they are so incredibly lucky to have everything they need to be happy.. I'm rarely the kind of gal that cries during movies or books and I was sobbing. I truly commend the Bagby's commitment to exposing (and trying to bring about change) a corrupt judicial system, even in the midst of their tremendous loss. I read this book in a single day on 2 airplanes several months ago. You dont get over it. In the early morning of 5 November 2001, she confronted Bagby at his residence, located across the street from his practice. After a short stint in a womens facility during the attempted murder proceedings, Turner was released on $75,000 bail. As devastated as he was by the deaths of Andrew and Zachary, Kurt Kuenne was far from the only one touched by both tragedies. Curated newsletters for curious minds. The Dear Zachary Story, "After Canadian mother killed herself and their only grandchild, U.S. couple started 10-year fight to change Canada's bail laws", "I had the moral right to kill Shirley Turner", "Shirley Turner, son found dead | CBC News", "Turner psychiatrist ordered to pay $10,000", "Ask the filmmaker a question about 'Dear Zachary', No need for Zachary Turner to die: death review, "Top 5 Good Movies You Never Want To See Again", "Nearly 2 decades after the murder of a physician and his son a legacy of love survives", "Dear Zachary: Donations in Andrew's Memory", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Andrew_Bagby_and_Zachary_Turner&oldid=1137739500, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, November 2001 events in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple parents, Pages using infobox criminal with known for parameter, Articles needing additional references from June 2021, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. But their relationship with their grandson wasnt always as innocent as the images depicted in home videos of Zachary taking his wobbly first steps as a toddler on the rain soaked sidewalk or of Andrew Bagbys friends first encounters with a miniature version of their beloved friend. Its levelled off to the point where it is much easier than initially that horror of it at the beginning is almost unbearable, Bagby answers, patiently. Lying on my shoulder and looking up at me as if to say, Yes Nan, Im here.. People We Want to See on a Comedy Central Roast, Your Favorite Mothers from MTV's "Teen Mom". Want more true crime? When Kate reached down to wipe one away, she accidentally knocked out the plug used to mask his facial wound. On several occasions, he had summoned state troopers to order her to leave. 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. We did not want to be here without Andrew, David Bagby said. In November 2001, Dr. Andrew Bagby, 28, was discovered in a Pennsylvania park by a homeless man looking for recyclables, shot multiple times. That is not a spoiler, as it is on the back of the book. Andrew Bagby or Bags as his friends call him was a man who amassed more friends than most during his 28 years. This sad tale tells how slowly justice moved and failed to protect an innocent year old child. Since their son was murdered in 2001 and their . 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. They persevered through long, drawn-out, and complicated custody and extradition hearingseven as they struggled with their own griefonly to be met with further heartbreak. CORNER BROOK, N.L. Along the way, he learned how vast the reaches of his friends influence were. Sharing voices. Ensure local journalism stays in your community by purchasing a membership today. 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. 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. But this project brought a lot of things into perspective. He explains that as parents who lost a son, they "could do nothing but cry, all day,every day." Our SaltWire team is always watching out for the place we call home. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Known for Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father 8.5 Self - Father 2008 Credits IMDbPro Thanks They should have been given custody of Zachary to begin with. 2023 SaltWire Network. Turner followed the man to Pennsylvania, leaving threatening voicemails over the following year and making unannounced visits to his apartment. A Memoir of Murder and Loss By: David Bagby Narrated by: Allan Edwards Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins 4.5 (127 ratings) Try for $0.00 1 title per month from Audible's entire catalog of best sellers, and new releases. I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. Society as a whole should take the lessons derived from this book and just pray the same tragedy never befalls their own family. They still have friends in the province, people Kate said they wouldnt have survived without. 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. Turner alternately told her shooting instructor that her gun had been stolen. Turner posted bail with help from her psychiatrist, John Doucet, a former co-worker from Memorial University. Also in Turner's apartment were MapQuest printouts for road directions to Latrobe. The pair planned to take care of the minutiae of dealing with a lost loved one, fly back to California and kill themselves. This book just reinforces the obliviousness and callousness of " the system" towards victims and its sick preoccupation with criminals' rights. There are things to do, he said, and they try to enjoy life as much as possible. Kate Bagby feels her son was too trusting to agree to meet Turner at the park the day he was killed. A judge called Andrew's murder a vicious crime, but did not consider Turner a risk to others. Watsonville Worm Castings It comes down to probable cause, the right to bail and the presumption of innocence. They keep busy with friends, but when the thoughts come back, it weighs on them. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. I was lucky to get my hands on a copy of this hard to find book and was glad I did. Beginning in early 1999, Turner began dating Andrew David Bagby (25 September 1973 5 November 2001), an American medical student studying at Memorial University for his third year. On August 18, 2003, 42-year-old Shirley Turner ended her life as well as the life of her infant son, 13-month-old Zachary. Andrew was 28 years old at the time of death. 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. You can absorb it and carry on. For Kuenne, the answer to that question began in childhood. These incidents left the supervising physician with the impression that: I felt I was being manipulated whenever I spoke with Shirley Turner. I always felt Shirley Turner was putting on a show, as if she were playing the role but had no feeling for her work. We couldnt actually believe shed (harm Zachary), but we consciously feared she could do that, he said. A man searching for aluminum cans in Keystone State Park located near New Alexandria in southwest Pennsylvania where Bagby was a physician at the Latrobe Area Hospital found Andrew Bagby face down on blood stained gravel, covered with a thin layer of frost, early in the morning of Nov. 6, 2001. She was a homemaker and owned and operated a broiler grow out business with her husband. You take it with you, but you move on, said David. CONTRIBUTED BY DAVID BAGBY Kurt Kuenne met Andrew Bagby in first grade and instantly the two formed a special bond that has never wavered in the 18 years since Bagby's death. Ensure local journalism stays in your community by purchasing a membership today. Acting in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's (RNC) Intelligence Unit conducted surveillance on her movements. She turns to talking of her son and calls him Gods blessing. Throughoutthe film, it's really difficult to watch a reasonable man consider such extreme and desperate measures. During her remedial second residency period in early 2000, Turner missed nine days of her three-month rotation and falsified clinical reports. Why didn't the many people who witnessed Shirley Turner's disturbing behavior and intense wrath make an issue in the courts more of it? With Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby. We were done, Kate Bagby said, finishing her husbands 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. Subscribe here. David Bagby wouldnt mind a trip back to Newfoundland, but said his wife has more emotions about the subject and they likely wont return. Some say they don't have the authority to tell her, others say their office is closed, and others say there's "nothing to do. The news and opinions youll love for only $10 for 1 year. Sign up forThe Lineup's newsletter, and get our chilling investigations delivered straight to your inbox. Markesteyn, Peter H.; Day, David C. (September 2006). [5], Shirley Jane Turner (28 January 1961 18 August 2003) was a Canadian-American daughter of a U.S. serviceman and local woman from St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador. Zacharys arrival pierced the hatred toward Turner that flooded the Bagbys lives after they lost their only son. ", Is there a greater nightmare than people hinting that your child is gone but not confirming it? 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. David Bagby. Its a day the couple would most likely prefer to spend quietly, avoiding the phone. David Bagby starts many sentences with Coverage from the 2023 Canada Winter Games, Making Canada Better: Atlantic Canadians striving for change, VIDEO: Your daily elite-sports highlight package. Submit an Obituary, SPONSORED LINKS The other, their grandson, Zachary Turner. Obituaries You dont leave it behind. She has to veer away from the image and instead see him as a living being. Turner claimed that she was pregnant by the man, but no evidence was found showing this to be the case. She went so far as to discharge her family law lawyer because of his positive attitude towards the Bagbys. Had the case played out in the U.S. court system, they believe Zachary would still be with them. This preference was made especially clear during Zachary's first birthday party at a St. John's McDonald's, after which Turner said to Kathleen, "He obviously loves you more than me, so why don't you take him? The ending was so shocking, I was screaming with David Bagby That bitch! Yes,they were innocent as well, but I feel it takes a big person to rise abouve it all and not harbour animosity towards those people. Appalled. 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. While battling the extremely long court system in Canada, they did all they could to keep things civil between themselves and the accused murderer of their son.