[12], Turner's body was found on a beach by a vacationing couple, with Zachary's body discovered nearby. The two had broken up only two days prior, right before Turner left by plane for Council Bluffs, Iowa. Following the end of her first marriage on 29 January 1988, Turner married her boyfriend from Corner Brook the following July. 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. Tears fall from my face the same way petals fall from wilted flowers. What's doubly upsetting about this is the way director KurtKuenne sets their story to home movies of Andrew as a young boy. When Turner's long-time boyfriendwished to end their relationship, she allegedly began stalking him. 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. A possessive and jealous Turner also confronted Bagby about his friendship with an ex-girlfriend. 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. The psychiatrist later filed a report with social services, and Turner's children confirmed the allegations. Newfoundland social service workers interviewed the children, who stated that their "disciplinarian" mother punished them with spankings and beatings by belt. 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. Happy finals week! Canadian authorities' decisioncontradicted the advisement of Pennsylvaniaprosecutors. Throughoutthe film, it's really difficult to watch a reasonable man consider such extreme and desperate measures. This is a response to "Ways to Follow Clothing Trends in 2021.. 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. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Zachary-Letter-About-Father/dp/B00MB6F3QW Nobody from the department of social services contacted Turner, and the case was dropped on January 11, 1994. And I realize thats all I have left. On November 3, 2001, Bagby broke up with Turner at the end of a visit she made to Pennsylvania. It's widely believed that if she hadn't been released, Zachary would probably still be alive today. Dear Zachary When negative items would come up[,] she would change the topic to one of my failings. WebAbout the Filmmaker. Released in 2008, the filmmakes the cut as one ofthe greatest documentaries of all time. David remembers uttering, "It's really him," and recalls how the two cried over the body, tears falling on to Andrew's face. People We Want to See on a Comedy Central Roast. So when he didnt show up at 7:30 P.M., I knew something was wrong.. Dear Zachary, which unfolds chronologically,has not one but two major twists. These incidents left the supervising physician with the impression that: I felt I was being manipulated whenever I spoke with Shirley Turner. A little over a month later, on November 3, Turner confessedto the fake pregnancy and Bagby endedtheir relationship. [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. With many college semesters coming to a close, students find themselves procrastinating. Zachary 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. WebDear Zachary is the sort of documentary that, in delivering its debilitating news, ensures that every person in the theater leaves their seat with the strongest reminder to continue to cherish those they love, and to reminisce without mercy for those they've loved and lost. The case was closed on 11 January 1994 without an interview with Turner. 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. It would be insulting to Kuenne to go into this film with any preconceived notions, one simply has to experience it on their own. 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. Poor attempt at coping with finals, but hey, you can't think about that biology exam anymore, you're just numbing your pain. Kelsey mentioned chocolate chip pancakes. After Turner mademultiple failed attempts to arrangefor the children to reside with differentfamily members, they eventually settled in with their respective fathers. Dear Zachary However, Turner was later released on bail after a judge ruled she was. Cataloging the most poignant Dear Zachary moments may seem like a fools errand, [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). Despite the evidence gathered, Turner had fled the country by the time authorities obtained a warrant for her arrest. 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. After the films release, Kuenne sent four hundred copies of. At times I tried to keep up with the trends but most of the time I found that I was always late to them. They uncover everything about him that I promised myself I would forget. A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son.A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son.A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son. The lyrics seem to parade in one ear and out the other. and the film is so unsettling that it will stay with viewers for a long time. On several occasions, it was noted that Zachary had poor attachment to his mother and preferred the company of other adults, particularly his grandparents. [11] She then drove with Zachary to nearby Conception Bay South, where the man she had met at the bar lived. [20], On April 4, 2013, Kuenne released a short documentary titled The Legacy of Dear Zachary: A Journey to Change the Law on YouTube. But after ordering and returning items multiple times due to feeling uncomfortable in them, I realized that this wasnt my style. Dear Zachary On several occasions, he had summoned state troopers to order her to leave. Bagbys parents were forced to give Turner joint custody of Zachary. WebShocking and moving, this documentary shows both the good and bad side of humanity. WebShocking and moving, this documentary shows both the good and bad side of humanity. Its been so long since I have felt big enough to take up and control my five foot seven figure. He expressed fear to police of "what Dr. Turner would do next. [2]:84, Upon becoming pregnant, Turner married a long-time boyfriend during Memorial University's 1981 winter recess. The bill, which helps protect children in relation to bail hearings and custody disputes, was signed into law the following year. Dear Zachary Shortly after she was arrested, she announced that she was pregnant with his child, whom she named Zachary. 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. Police concluded that she was attempting to frame the boyfriend for the planned murdersuicide. We play detective, piecing together the fragments of a story until we get the satisfaction of looking at a complete picture. The next twist is like a punch to the gut. On 23 October 2009, Scott Andrews, then a Liberal MP from Newfoundland and Labrador, introduced Bill C-464, or "Zachary's Bill", which would change the Criminal Code of Canada to allow the courts to justify refusing bail to those accused of serious crimes in the name of protecting their children. Kuennes film transforms into a visual letter to the child that Andrew never got to meet. When I hear this song, I forget where I am. 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. I always felt Shirley Turner was putting on a show, as if she were playing the role but had no feeling for her work. In 2001,Kurt Kuennes childhood friend Andrew Bagby was murdered by his estranged girlfriend, Shirley Turner. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. 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. Lets create a culture that celebrates expression rather than forces unrealistic expectations. [16], As part of a campaign to change federal bail laws, Kuenne sent a copy of Dear Zachary to each of the over 400 members of Canada's Parliament. The film 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, and was named Best Documentary at the Orlando Film Festival. Cataloging the most poignant Dear Zachary moments may seem like a fools errand, [6] Turner gave birth to her second daughter on 8 March 1990, one year before she and her second husband separated. Little did I know this documentary would send me into a fit of hyperventilation and ugly crying. 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. Kristen Haddox, Penn State University4. If you know me, I literally cry in every movie I see, so this question was not out of the ordinary. If youre fascinated by the world of true crime, sign up for our newsletter. It was determined that Zachary Turner was rendered unconscious by the lorazepam and did not suffer. Turner later drove home and left a message on Bagby's answering machine. Lists about some of the most shocking and upsetting documentary films & series that you should totally watch anyway. Within days of the ruling, however, Turner sent her daughter back to live with her father in Portland Creek while her other two children were sent to Parson's Pond to live with their paternal grandmother. [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. Her hobbies are: reading about science, doing experiments, and travelling. Yes! Turner's husband raised the child as a stay-at-home dad while Turner continued her studies. After themurder, Turner, now accused of killing Andrew, announces she is four months pregnant with Andrews child. Acting on statements by Simpson and others, the Pennsylvania State Police contacted Turner. 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. This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 14:10. Others included falsely taking the child and moving around the USunder assumed identities. You will want to do something because this film will ignite a fire within you, about injustice and family. There's no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary:A Letter to a Son About His Fatheris one of the most intense. 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. [2]:86. The film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2008 and received a limited theatrical release before being acquired for distribution by MSNBC. WebTheres no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the most intense. 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 conception of Zachary came shortly after this phone call. Road-tripping with your friends? There's no shortage of harrowing documentaries, but Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the most intense. [2]:494 Turner drowned. 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. "Dear Zachary" (2008) is Kurt Kuenne's directoral debut, a homage to his murdered friend, addressed to said friend's child. However, as events unfolded and took an even more tragic turn, he decided to release the film publicly. 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". During my time abroad, we were encouraged not to wear athletic clothing to fit in with the European culture. And,with no evidence of tampering, it was highly likely Turner was the culprit. When this wasn't enough, she traveled to him and verbally abused him. Kuenne donated all profits from the film to scholarships established in the names of Andrew and Zachary Bagby.[2]. 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. Notall of thememories are positive, of course. But do we really need to dress to impress? [14] According to filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, Doucet later left Newfoundland and relocated elsewhere in Canada.[15]. She was raised with three siblings in Wichita, Kansas, but moved to Newfoundland with her mother after her parents separated; the parents later divorced. But just days after they separated, Turner showed up at Andrews front door, having driven 16hours overnight to confront him. You need the energy to get through the next few hours. From Zero to Hero: Write Your Short in 30 days, Heres How To Watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie Online Free: Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) Streaming On Prime Video, HBO Max Or Netflix, Heres How To Watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie Online Free: Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) Streaming On Prime Video, HBO Max Or Netflix, Heres How To Watch John Wick: Chapter 4 Online Free: Is John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) Streaming On Peacock, HBO Max, Netflix Or At Home, Heres Where To Watch John Wick: Chapter 4 Free At Home Is John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) Movie Streaming Online now. Turner made the travel to visit Bagby seven times, whilehe came to see her only once. 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. Turner told Bagby's ex-fiance that she intended to get an abortion, but later told her she intended to keep the child. The original cut of the documentary had a run time of over two hours and contains numerous other short scenes, most notably a segment in which Kuenne travels to England to interview Andrew's maternal relatives during a wedding. And she dances. One of Turner's former roommates became so alarmed by Turner's behavior towards her children that heabandoned his tenancy. In short, when it comes to the genre, I know whats up. Dear Zachary While this fraught situation dragged on, Kuenne traveled to the United Kingdom and across the U.S. to interview Bagby's friends and extended family. 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 Kurt Kuenne and Andrew Bagby grew up as close friends in the suburbs of San Jose, California. I cannot recall a trainee like Shirley Turner in that her approach lacked personal commitment and her relationships with people seemed, at least to me, to be superficial when compared to the over 400 residents I have supervised during the past 21 years. She even spins. [10] It was screened at Cinequest Film Festival, South by Southwest, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, the Sarasota Film Festival, the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, the Calgary International Film Festival, and the Edmonton International Film Festival, among others, before receiving a limited theatrical release in the United States, opening in one city at a time in select metropolitan areas. Kurt Kuenne: [to Andrew in home movie] I have a good idea: I'll go back in time and stop you from dying. This documentary has serious heart:and its unusual approach makes it all the more heartbreaking. Kate [Andrews mother] went to kiss him, he cries, and the plug came out where hed been shot in the left cheek.. 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. It is about Kuenne's close friend Andrew Bagby, who was murdered after Bagby ended a relationship with a woman named Shirley Jane Turner. Hear me out. Dear Zachary A senseless crime Bagby agreed to talk with her about the pregnancy during a wedding that Bagby was scheduled to attend. He found Turner draped in a black dress and holding a dozen roses, coupled with two letters -one of them a suicide note. My friend and I were planning on watching the latest episode of "Designated Survivor," however my parents threw a wrench in that when they kicked us out of the family room, where the episode was recorded. At this point, Turner had completely gone off the deep end, which culminated in themurder-suicide of both herself and young son, Zachary. Turner,still unwilling to leave him alone, went to his home and attempted an elaborate and psychologically disturbing suicide. 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. Zachary Dear Zachary During a 1999 residency at a family practice in St. John's, Turner's professionalism drew harsh criticism by her supervising physician, who stated she would become "quite hostile, yelling, crying, and accusing me of treating her unfairly." The film, released in 2008 entitled Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, had been intended as a tribute to Andrew Bagby that Zachary could appreciate when he got older. Andrew was never late, the friend said. Those two exams just stripped you of your pride. Related: 10 Terrifying True Stories of Killers Who Knew Their Victims. However, Newfoundland Justice Gale Welsh believed Turner, then 40, wasn't a threat to society, despite the murder charges awaiting her in Pennsylvania. As a writer for Odyssey, youll have the opportunity to share your voice with our community of readers from all over the world. The sights, sounds, and smells of a summer day in your hometown. Knowing I would cry no matter what we watched, I shrugged and agreed. 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. You didn't study enough and you're pretty sure that last final dropped your grade at least 10 percent. 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. 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. 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. decades after the murder of After Doucet broke up with Turner and moved elsewhere in Newfoundland, she began inundating him with phone calls. When I saw the title, next to a 94 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I wasnt convinced. Shouldnt those around us love us for us rather than the clothes we are wearing? Your favorite summer hobby and how you got into it. The inquiry concluded that Zachary's death had been preventable. Everyone feels the desire for belonging and to fit in with the people around them. Dear Zachary The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named the film one of the five top documentaries of 2008. ", On 7 April 1999, Doucet found Turner lying semi-conscious outside of his apartment, having ingested a combined 65 milligrams of over-the-counter drugs in a suicide attempt. The police discovered through phone records that Turner had returned to Pennsylvania the day before the murder. Such was introduced on March 23rd, 2010, and Zacharys Bill was signed into law two years after the release of Kuennes documentary. Kuenne finished his documentary and dedicated it to the memories of both Bagby and Zachary. His intention was just to explore Bagbys life and interview those who knew him. Dear Zachary The RNC arrested Turner on 12 December, the same day extradition proceedings commenced against her. He had been shot five times in the face, the chest, the buttocks, and the back of the head with CCI .22 bullets. by Johnny Brayson. Turners pregnancy was even announced. Youve finished packing and found out you passed all of your classes! Turner's overbearing and obsessive actions included child abuse,the physical andpsychological harassment of her lovers, as well asher eventual slayings and suicide. 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. [5] Perpetrator I wonder what its like to be free. She took her return flight to Iowa, but then, the next day, drove the almost 1,000 miles back to Latrobe, arriving early on the morning of November 5. 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. [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. [2]:101. Best Documentaries on Amazon Prime Bagby's parents, friends, and associates were uneasy about the relationship because of what they saw as Turner's off-putting behavior. Documentary Biography Crime A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son. She confesses her profuse love for this song, but she doesnt even understand it. Pre-studying study break at Starbucks. Magnolia Pictures. The pair dated and were sexually intimate on two occasions afterward. Canadian officials also released her on bail even though she was detained as the culpable suspect in the case. Kurt Kuenne is an award-winning filmmaker and composer of both fiction and documentary films. 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. Dear Zachary
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