They kept a staggering long-distance relationship. The conception of Zachary came shortly after this phone call. Related: The 13 Best True Crime Documentaries Streaming on Netflix Right Now. 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. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father You may even be procrastinating right now while you read this article! When police obtained a warrant for Turners arrest, she fled the States, back to Canada. These incidents left the supervising physician with the impression that: I felt I was being manipulated whenever I spoke with Shirley Turner. 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. So here it is: If theres one documentary you need to watch before you die, its Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father. Shortly after she was arrested, she announced that she was pregnant with his child, whom she named Zachary. At first, I felt pressured to wear the same, their matching sets, bike shorts, crop tops, and more. I can tell you this though, it will impact you. He was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000covering one-third of the $30,000 incurred by the college for the inquiryand was ordered to undergo psychiatric counseling. Documentary Biography Crime A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son. Dear Zachary, which unfolds chronologically, has not one but two major twists. On Aug. 13, 2003, Turner, still fighting extradition, took Zachary to Conception Bay. The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named the film one of the five top documentaries of 2008. Turner, reportedly mentally unstable, decided to endherself and the life of her baby over a man she had gone out with twice, after meeting him at a bar in St. John's. 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. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. He went to Newfoundland and visited Zachary in July 2003. Dear Zachary When I saw the title, next to a 94 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I wasnt convinced. I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. When, in November 2002, a provincial court ruled that enough evidence pointed to Turner as Bagby's killer, Turner was again arrested, and Bagby's parents were awarded custody of Zachary. Kuenne wanted to gather memories of Bagby, from the fact that he always wore shorts to his goofy, fun-loving nature. After mixing her lorazepam into Zachary's baby formula and ingesting a toxic dosage herself, Turner strapped the infant to her chest with her sweater and jumped off a fishing wharf at Foxtrap Marina into the Atlantic Ocean. On November 3, 2001, Bagby broke up with Turner at the end of a visit she made to Pennsylvania. Road-tripping with your friends? Going beyond the tropes of a generic investigative documentary, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Father to a Son About His Father is deeply personal and frustratingly tragic, and it doesnt have a happy ending. Dear Zachary [15] The website Film School Rejects place the film third in their list of the "30 Best Films of the Decade". Although its hard to watch, its a must-see. Were currently seeking writers to join our summer writing program. In addition, Turnercalled him repeatedly. Although it's hard to watch, it's a On 2 December, the Unit seized her trash and discovered printouts for an ultrasound taken on 29 November, showing a fetus that was conceived with Bagby the previous month. Turner subsequently made a total of 200 threatening phone calls to the man over the following month. WebAbout the Filmmaker. You simply must see this film." Jeffrey Epsteins unredacted flight log finally uncovered, Here's why Dayana Espinoza is an actor to watch. During my time abroad, we were encouraged not to wear athletic clothing to fit in with the European culture. The lyrics seem to parade in one ear and out the other. From a young age, girls are introduced to a culture where they are expected to dress to impress specifically the men around them. On 4 November 2001, Turner made a total of three phone calls to Bagby's residence in Latrobe. On several occasions, he had summoned state troopers to order her to leave. Shouldnt those around us love us for us rather than the clothes we are wearing? Turner later drove home and left a message on Bagby's answering machine. Happy finals week! After the films release, Kuenne sent four hundred copies of. 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. Feature photo of Andrew Bagby from "Dear Zachary" via MSNBC Films. Acting on statements by Simpson and others, the Pennsylvania State Police contacted Turner. decades after the murder of The RNC arrested Turner on 12 December, the same day extradition proceedings commenced against her. [23][24][25], Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father", "The Story of Kate, David and Andrew Bagby", "No need for Zachary Turner to die: death review", "Doctor fined for ethical violation in Turner case", "Family services manager resigns post, days after Turner review", "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)", "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father Reviews", "Variety Reviews - Dear Zachary A Letter to a Son About His Father - SXSW Reviews - Review by Peter Debruge", "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father [DVD]", Dear Zachary - Tenth Anniversary Re-release - Official Trailer - Oscilloscope Laboratories HD, "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - 10th Anniversary Edition [DVD]", "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - 10th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray]", Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dear_Zachary:_A_Letter_to_a_Son_About_His_Father&oldid=1148183240, This page was last edited on 4 April 2023, at 15:33. Tears fall from my face the same way petals fall from wilted flowers. Knowing I would cry no matter what we watched, I shrugged and agreed. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Zachary-Letter-About-Father/dp/B00MB6F3QW His intention was just to explore Bagbys life and interview those who knew him. 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. "[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 based on 11 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Turner claimed that she was pregnant by the man, but no evidence was found showing this to be the case. While attendingmedical school,Andrew Bagby began dating Turner, who was 12 years older than him. 4. Shortly after she was arrested, she announced that she was pregnant with his child, whom she named Zachary. So here it is: If theres one documentary you need to watch before you die, its Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father. 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. I'm grateful this story was told, even if it was painful to experience. Turner retained custody of all three of her children. Your brain hurts. Screening the film wherever they could, including directly to the Canadian Parliament, the pair along with the filmmaker insisted that Zachary's story become more than just a true-crime documentary- it needed to pushthe creation of legal reformations to protect future children. In 1983, Turner moved to Labrador City and worked as a science teacher. Turner first purchased her prescription of lorazepam from a St. John's pharmacy. But heres the plot. WebTheres no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the most intense. [15], Dear Zachary was released on DVD on February 24, 2009, by Oscilloscope Laboratories. Meanwhile, Turner exhibited possessive behavior towards Bagby and harassed him over the phone. And,with no evidence of tampering, it was highly likely Turner was the culprit. It received critical acclaim, particularly for its editing and emotional weight. Turner's husband raised the child as a stay-at-home dad while Turner continued her studies. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Dear Zachary has an approval rating of 94% based on 51 reviews, with an average score of 8.10/10; the site's critical consensus reads: "Dear Zachary is both a touching tribute to a fallen friend and a heart-wrenching account of justice gone astray, skillfully put to film with no emotion spared. The music takes control of my vacant body and for a solid three minutes I am nowhere to be found. The next twist is like a punch to the gut. [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. You will curse the Canadian justice system for showing no concern for human life. 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. 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. Related: 10 Terrifying True Stories of Killers Who Knew Their Victims. And hey, if you finish the movie and feel any of the emotions I am feeling, I would be more than happy to discuss it with you. A possessive and jealous Turner also confronted Bagby about his friendship with an ex-girlfriend. Andrew Bagby was a childhood friend of filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, and Kuenne's project began as a "cinematic scrapbook" for Zachary. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is easily one of the most traumatic films I've ever seen. Shortly after she was arrested, she announced that she was pregnant with his child, whom she named Zachary. [4] The Bagbys had to give Zachary back to Turner, but they were able to arrange a visitation schedule. Nobody from the department of social services contacted Turner, and the case was dropped on January 11, 1994. Canadian officials also released her on bail even though she was detained as the culpable suspect in the case. Dear Zachary is beloved among the true-crime documentary community for being honest, heart-felt, infuriating, and devastating. 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. Such was introduced on March 23rd, 2010, and Zacharys Bill was signed into law two years after the release of Kuennes documentary. [7] By Turner's account, she visited Bagby's residence in Syracuse seven times while he visited her once in Sac City. However, because the man did not identify himself and declined to file any criminal complaint against Turner, no investigation was launched by the RNC. Her hobbies are: reading about science, doing experiments, and travelling. A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son. 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. Meanwhile, after graduating from Memorial University in May 2000, Bagby landed a surgical residency at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University at Syracuse, New York. Magnolia Pictures. He also reported Turner to a psychiatrist at the university she was attending at the time. Where To Watch John Wick Chapter 4 Online Free: Is The Movie On Netflix, HBO Max, Or Prime Video? 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. [12], Turner's body was found on a beach by a vacationing couple, with Zachary's body discovered nearby. 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. What is the French language plot outline for Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)? After receiving a call from the police department telling her to call a coroner's office, Andrew's mother, Kate, gotknocked around to numerous departments and authorities who told her nothing more than the factthere was "terrible news." "Dear Zachary" (2008) is Kurt Kuenne's directoral debut, a homage to his murdered friend, addressed to said friend's child. Your work will be featured on our homepage and in our weekly Overheard on Odyssey newsletter. The top five things on your summer bucket list this year. I am sorry I cannot say more about this film without ruining its unique premise. Kelsey mentioned chocolate chip pancakes. Bagbys parents were forced to give Turner joint custody of Zachary. On 12 November 2001, Turner abandoned her residence in Council Bluffs and flew to Toronto, eventually resettling in St. John's with her oldest son. Turner, meanwhile, is living as a free woman in Newfoundland. Like The Thin Blue Line, Dear Zachary borrows some narrative dramatic tricks, and they pay off remarkably well. His laptop, movie and music collection, and many other personal items were gone. After the murder, Turner, now accused of killing Andrew, announces she is four months pregnant with Andrews child. 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. 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. I wonder what its like to be free. "[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. Would sell my soul for a drink at Residuals right now, Location: 8472 Melrose Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069, Location: 916 S San Fernando Blvd. Its that powerful of a film, but not for the faint of heart. 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. Dear Zachary Those awful seven hours of studying paid off, definitely aced that exam. It's hands down one of the most mind-blowing true-crime movies in recent memory, fiction or nonfiction. There arent many documentaries likeDear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. Kate was devastated at how the process unfolded. 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]. Throughout my time in college, especially studying abroad, I found that I loved jeans, baggy sweaters, my Air Force 1s that I have worn down to the point its crazy, small rings, and dresses. He found Turner draped in a black dress and holding a dozen roses, coupled with two letters -one of them a suicide note. ", Is there a greater nightmare than people hinting that your child is gone but not confirming it? This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. Released in 2008, the filmmakes the cut as one ofthe greatest documentaries of all time. Director Kurt Kuenne Writer Kurt Kuenne Stars Kurt Kuenne Andrew Bagby David Bagby See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video included with Prime More watch options Add to Watchlist [22] The Dr. Andrew Bagby and son Zachary Bursary Fund supports students at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Turner was prone to emotional outbursts and physical assaults on the man. [6] Turner gave birth to her second daughter on 8 March 1990, one year before she and her second husband separated. You will want to do something because this film will ignite a fire within you, about injustice and family. To sign up, email glorie@theodysseyonline.com. He explains that as parents who lost a son, they "could do nothing but cry, all day,every day." Lets create a culture that celebrates expression rather than forces unrealistic expectations. After Canadian mother killed herself and 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. In October 1993, a man boarding with Turner confided to his therapist that he had witnessed Turner physically and emotionally abusing two of her children. The following morning, Bagby's body was found in a day-use parking lot at Keystone State Park in Derry Township, Pennsylvania. Despite her claim to have been in bed sick on 5 November, cell phone and Internet records showed that she had made cross-country calls both to and from Latrobe, accessed eBay and Hotmail from Bagby's home computer, and used his home phone to call in sick. 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. 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. The inquiry concluded that Zachary's death had been preventable. Bagby and Turner's relationship began to crumble, and Turner became increasingly possessive. I think back to the day I met him; the day I started loving someone more than I have ever loved myself. Dear Zachary, which unfolds chronologically,has not one but two major twists. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father Among those who named it one of the best films of 2008 were Time Out Chicago, The Oregonian, the Times Herald-Record, Slant Magazine, and WGN Radio Chicago. On November 6, 2001, Bagbys body, shot five times, was found in a park near his hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 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. I forget what is and only know what used to be. When a constable contacted Turner's lawyer about the harassment, she denied the allegations. The ultimate tragedy of this story came when Turner, in 2003, jumped into the Atlantic Ocean, holding her one-year-old baby Zachary in her arms. The pair dated and were sexually intimate on two occasions afterward. 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. Andrew tried to leave Shirley entirely in November 2001. He expressed fear to police of "what Dr. Turner would do next. On November 4, 2006, Dr. Andrew Bagby broke up with his girlfriend, Dr. Shirley Turner. Doucet said he was "disappointed" by the verdict, while David Bagby stated that he was happy with the precedent his case would be setting. Dear Zachary Released in 2008, the film makes the cut as one of the greatest documentaries of all time. Magnolia Pictures. They're leaving and you're the last one of the group left at school. Dear Zachary is not a cinematic marvel, and its frantic editing and heavy-handed imagery can be off-putting. On 13 October, Turner told Bagby that she was three months pregnant. David remembers uttering, "It's really him," and recalls how the two cried over the body, tears falling on to Andrew's face. The ex-boyfriend tookflight once again, this time to Pennsylvania. [5] Distraught over Zachary's death, and outraged at the Canadian legal system's failure to protect the child, David and Kathleen mounted a campaign to reform the country's bail laws, which they believed had helped allow Turner to kill her child and herself. Between 1998 and 2000, she served as a resident physician at teaching hospitals across Newfoundland. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society2. Dear Zachary [19], Two scholarships have been established in tribute to Andrew David Bagby and his son. [16] The provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador accepted the report's conclusions and its 29 recommendations. Andrew told a friend he was going to meet Shirleythe following day to finally end things. [19] The website Film School Rejects placed the film third in their "30 Best Films of the Decade" list. During her remedial second residency period in early 2000, Turner missed nine days of her three-month rotation and falsified clinical reports. WebTheres no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the most intense. When I saw the title, next to a 94 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I wasnt convinced. 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. 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. Canadian authorities' decisioncontradicted the advisement of Pennsylvaniaprosecutors. After graduating in 2000, Bagby moved to New York to work as a surgical resident, and Turner moved to Iowa, also for work, but they maintained a long-distance relationship. But heres the plot. [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. [20], On April 4, 2013, Kuenne released a short documentary titled The Legacy of Dear Zachary: A Journey to Change the Law on YouTube. - Elliot V. Kotek, Moving Pictures Magazine 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. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}473050N 525945W / 47.513769N 52.995733W / 47.513769; -52.995733. gathers the fragments of a true crime story about young doctor Andrew Bagby and the terrible events surrounding his death. by Johnny Brayson. But she does not hear the same song as me. We play detective, piecing together the fragments of a story until we get the satisfaction of looking at a complete picture. The bill received unanimous support in the Canadian House of Commons, and received support from Liberal Senator Tommy Banks. It chronicles the completion and release of Dear Zachary and the subsequent efforts to amend Canadian law. I finally understand that heartbreak has a sound. The fam bam is here, and you sadly wave good bye to your dorm room. Plus, for your first 10 articles, youll be compensated by HQ at $10/response. The lot number on a box of condoms found in Turner's Council Bluffs apartment matched a box purchased by Bagby in Latrobe on the night of the break-up. Kate [Andrews mother] went to kiss him, he cries, and the plug came out where hed been shot in the left cheek.. Little did I know this documentary would send me into a fit of hyperventilation and ugly crying. There was just something off about her, one family friend explains. Dear Zachary The man then broke off the relationship after learning from a friend about Turner's connection to Bagby's murder. I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. Turner was 40 at the time, Andrew was 28. Yes! Backpacking across Europe? This is a response to "Ways to Follow Clothing Trends in 2021.. If you're looking for an extremely disturbing documentary film, you'll find it on these lists! One of Turner's former roommates became so alarmed by Turner's behavior towards her children that heabandoned his tenancy.
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