After the films release, Kuenne sent four hundred copies of Dear Zachary to every member of the Canadian Parliament to campaign for a bill to give more protection to children in custody disputes. 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. After consulting with his parents, Doucet moved to Westtown Township, Pennsylvania, United States in 1998. Dear Zachary According toCBC News: "The social services system in Newfoundland and Labrador failed [Zachary].". Kristen Haddox, Penn State University4. 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. In the interim, one of Andrew Bagbys closest childhood friends, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne had begun making a documentary about the young doctor, titled Dear Zachary, an effort to tell the toddler about the father he never met. See production, box office & company info, The Legacy of Dear Zachary: A Journey to Change the Law, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, One of the Most Traumatic Films Ever Made, Your Father's Murderer: A Letter to Zachary, The Legacy of Dear Zachary: A Journey to Change the Law (2013), WatchMojo: Top 10 Most Hard to Watch Documentaries, St. John's, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Standards have been set for centuries regarding expectations surrounding dress, especially for women. After the films release, Kuenne sent four hundred copies of. To sign up, email glorie@theodysseyonline.com. Dear Zachary Shortly after she was arrested, she announced that she was pregnant with his child, whom she named Zachary. The film is partly composed of home movies Kuenne and Bagby shot together as teenagers in California, and features interviews with Bagby's parents, extended family, friends, classmates, and colleagues, both before and after Zachary's murder. Were currently seeking writers to join our summer writing program. In short, when it comes to the genre, I know whats up. Dear Zachary is beloved among the true-crime documentary community for being honest, heart-felt, infuriating, and devastating. Frankie Stein is from Italy, but lives in Ingolstadt, Germany. "Dear Zachary" (2008) is Kurt Kuenne's directoral debut, a homage to his murdered friend, addressed to said friend's child. Turner was arrested as a suspect, and, shortly thereafter, announced she was pregnant with Bagby's child, a boy she named Zachary. After Canadian mother killed herself and On 4 November 2001, Turner made a total of three phone calls to Bagby's residence in Latrobe. [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). Zachary Andrew Turner (18 July 2002 18 August 2003)[2]:78 was a Canadian child from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, who was killed by his mother, Shirley Jane Turner, in a murdersuicide. I think back to the day I met him; the day I started loving someone more than I have ever loved myself. Turner later drove home and left a message on Bagby's answering machine. Andrew Bagby was a childhood friend of filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, and Kuenne's project began as a "cinematic scrapbook" for Zachary. There arent many documentaries likeDear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. While attendingmedical school,Andrew Bagby began dating Turner, who was 12 years older than him. Here are some of the topics wed love to hear about: Whether you're an experienced writer or just starting out, we welcome anyone with a passion for writing and a desire to share their perspective. The couplingdidnt make sense to Bagbys friends. The lyrics seem to parade in one ear and out the other. The film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, and was broadcast by MSNBC on 7 December 2008. The news that Turner was pregnant with Bagby's child turned the extradition case into one involving child custody, and subsequently led to a complicated legal saga. [19], Two scholarships have been established in tribute to Andrew David Bagby and his son. Kurt Kuenne has made a documentary in a way that a film itself is made, with amazing editing patterns and with a story that really grabs you and moves you. Bagby's parents, friends, and associates were uneasy about the relationship because of what they saw as Turner's off-putting behavior. Andrew tried to leave Shirley entirely in November 2001. 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. Bagby agreed to talk with her about the pregnancy during a wedding that Bagby was scheduled to attend. decades after the murder of Kuenne's attempts to arrange interviews with the prosecutors and judges who facilitated Turner's freedom were denied, but, in 2006, a panel convened by Newfoundland's Ministry of Justice released a report stating that Zachary's death had been preventable and the government's handling of Turner's case had been inadequate. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father No shade to them, everyone has their own style that they like and feel confident in. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society2. Clare Regelbrugge, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. [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. He expressed fear to police of "what Dr. Turner would do next. 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. Investigators interviewed Turner's shooting instructor, who explained that her handgun ejected live rounds during lessons; this was consistent with an unspent round recovered near Bagby's body. In 2001,Kurt Kuennes childhood friend Andrew Bagby was murdered by his estranged girlfriend, Shirley Turner. However, I truly believe i is something that needs to be experience by everyone and it s something you cannot go into without an open mind. Newfoundland social service workers interviewed the children, who stated that their "disciplinarian" mother punished them with spankings and beatings by belt. - Elliot V. Kotek, Moving Pictures Magazine [21], In December 2019,[22] a digitally remastered "10th Anniversary Edition" of Dear Zachary was released on DVD and Blu-ray. You've been studying all day and still don't understand the majority of the terms. In the interim, one of Andrew Bagbys closest childhood friends, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne had begun making a documentary about the young doctor, titled Dear Zachary, an effort to tell the toddler about the father he never met. is not a cinematic marvel, and its frantic editing and heavy-handed imagery can be off-putting. It has serious heart, and its unusual approach makes it all the more heartbreaking. [2]:80 In 1980, Turner enrolled at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, seeking to embark on a medical career. These incidents left the supervising physician with the impression that: I felt I was being manipulated whenever I spoke with Shirley Turner. Before police could apprehend her, Turner moved back to St. Johns, Newfoundland, and her arrest was impeded by a complicated extradition process. Turner followed the man to Pennsylvania, leaving threatening voicemails over the following year and making unannounced visits to his apartment. WebTheres no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the most intense. 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. Dear Zachary is anunsettling 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. The Dr. Andrew David Bagby Family Medicine Scholarship is for medical students at Excela Health Latrobe Hospital, and almost four dozen students pursuing Bagby's speciality of family practice have benefited from the award. Andrew was Kate and David's only son, and their "first plan" after taking care of his remains was to take their own lives. David remembers uttering, "It's really him," and recalls how the two cried over the body, tears falling on to Andrew's face. Turner alternately told her shooting instructor that her gun had been stolen. Yes! You simply must see this film." Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is easily one of the most traumatic films I've ever seen. Your favorite beach reads and binge-worthy Netflix shows. The staff became "so concerned about Shirley Turner's approach to confrontation and the truth that we would never give her feedback or hold any major discussion [with her] alone." 4. The experience with Turner led that St. John's practice to make "constructive changes" in its residency evaluation process. There's no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the most intense. Although it's hard to watch, it's a must-see. Haven't done anything all day Time to start cramming. Its best not to read up on the case until after youve seenDear Zachary if you want the documentary to work its intensely affecting charm on you. "[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]. In 1983, Turner moved to Labrador City and worked as a science teacher. Sometimes, however, there is no satisfying ending. It chronicles the completion and release of Dear Zachary and the subsequent efforts to amend Canadian law. The rays of music may salsa on her skin, but they dig deep into mine. [6] Turner's psychiatrist was found guilty of misconduct for helping her post bail,[7] and the director of Newfoundland's child welfare agency resigned. Little did I know this documentary would send me into a fit of hyperventilation and ugly crying. This documentary has serious heart:and its unusual approach makes it all the more heartbreaking. You will want to do something because this film will ignite a fire within you, about injustice and family. Kurt Kuenne is an award-winning filmmaker and composer of both fiction and documentary films. [2]:86. 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. 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. Lets create a culture that celebrates expression rather than forces unrealistic expectations. The next morning, Andrew didnt show up for work. 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.

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