-, "It's Kate and David Bagby who are the moral center of this film. In this way, Dear Zachary inverts the usual way of telling murder stories. You live your life, you create an entire universe around you, you trundle along, and then FUCK. Dear Zachary was also a hit at Silverdocs, the AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Film Festival over the weekend of June 21st & 22nd, where both screenings were once again met with standing ovations; Silverdocs nominated Dear Zachary for its inaugural Writers Guild of America Documentary Screenplay Award. They are prophecies. (Canadian flags; Newfoundland; lake and coast; man in coat; photos of Shirley, and Zachary; Kate, David and Zachary; Shirley, Kate and Zachary; Supreme Court, building; photos of David, Kate, Zachary and Shirley), Mr. BAGBY: Dealing with Turner was like, I don't know, walking around with. thoughts, his wife sees something that rocks her to the core. to the house and found a card from a police officer that we knew. If Shirley, Turner had her way, they wouldn't have met Zachary at all, claiming she didn't. `You gave me a lovely son, and now it's over.'. MORRISON: But would that somebody turn out to be a blessing or a curse? But it will also introduce you to some of the most inspiring, strong and caring people ever to grace the big screen."" Thought, you know, `Who would want to kill him?'. "One of the best documentaries I have ever seen in my entire life a film that will rock you to your core. -, "You don't just view what's happening on the screen -- you live it through every gasp and every tear, and every bit of exasperated anger(resulting) in one powerful standing ovation, the likes of which I have never seen at Hot Docs beforeDear Zachary will move you. We. Please consider joining us in this mission by becoming a member of the SaltWire Network and helping to make our communities better. David Bagby, left, and Kate Bagby, right, celebrate with their son Andrew Bagby at his graduation from medical school at Memorial University of Newfoundland in June 2000. I said, `When do you think you'll be done?' Laws governing the, rights of defendants are fairly strong in this country, but there's something, about Newfoundlanders in particular which may have contributed to the judge's, decision to grant bail. The memory of that visit is of a crying Zachary being taken away from them. Cpl. When police interviewed the hospital staff Mr. SIMPSON: I said, `Well, you don't have to look far.' David remembers uttering, "It's really him," and recalls how the two cried over the body, tears falling on to Andrew's face. ', KATE: He's so loved. We were in the way, I guess, of her trying to go to school. He couldve introduced his friends death any way he wanted, and he went with this, with a kid who can barely pronounce the word killed asking why one of daddys friends has ended up that way. This is how Kuenne represents his emotion at hearing the news that the woman who killed his friend had also killed his friends son. Well, I said, `Bring some beer. Except this story is worse. You take it with you, but you move on, said David. On December 4, 2009, Bill C-464 (our bail reform bill) was discussed on the floor of the House of Commons for a full hour, and MP Scott Andrews received unanimous support from all political parties in the House of Commons to advance the bill to the Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights. It would be kind of upsetting, I guess, to let your son spend time. Mr. SIMPSON: I said, `Do not meet her in private.' How do you represent the fact that this 13-month-olds death was preventable? I was like, `Oh, OK, yeah.' April 14, 2009: Lying on my shoulder and looking up at me as if to say, Yes Nan, Im here.. Shirley Turner had some startling news. She always spent time with him, and seemed to me like she was, MORRISON: Still grieving over the loss of their only son, David, and Kate Bagby had forsaken their lives in California and moved to, Newfoundland, not just to make sure justice was being served, but also to be, (Kate; David; Newfoundland; Supreme Court building; photo of Zachary), KATHERINE: There's this wonderful feeling, `I'm going to see part of Andrew. A few weeks after, Zachary's birthday party, the Bagbys and Shirley took the toddler swimming, an, activity he usually enjoyed. It turns out Shirley Jane Turner is pregnant. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Kathryn Schulz, reviewing Making a Murderer recently inThe New Yorker, described howtrue-crime projects can allow for bias to masquerade as objectivity and for people (particularly victims and their families) to be reduced to plot points. If nothing else is accomplished with this film, it will absolutely attach you to the too-short life that was Andrew Bagby's, and you're going to be sad that you didn't get a chance to know him -- but glad all the same that you know ABOUT him now." Based on the title alone, it sounds like one of those saccharine documentaries that only the filmmaker and the subject would ever really care about. Well, I was hurt in an, accident. After Zacharys death, the Bagbys began a quest to have Canadas bail laws changed. One of the first to meet Zachary was, (Photo of Zachary Turner; wedding dance; photo of Shirley and Zachary; photo. 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition DigiPak: Unidentified Woman #12: We won't forget their son. Parents Kate and David Bagby's story of identifying Andrew's body is devastating. a--with a hand grenade in the kitchen with the pin already pulled. Shortly after his death, she fled to Canada and settled back in St. Johns. -, "urgent, furiousadmirably well editedthis incredible, well-researched documentary demonstrates the vast gulf one life can leave behind." He had been shot five times and the No. KATE: People thought she was delicate, you know, and looked KATE: She couldn't kill. With that kind of goodness, anything is possible. The bill, if passed into law later this year, would justify detention in custody for those accused of a serious crime who are a potential danger to their own children under the age of 18. Cpl. flying; Canadian flag flying; Supreme Court of Newfoundland building exterior; photos of Shirley; court document; university building; man talking to, reporters; court documents; Kate and David). And she followed Andrew to St. John's. Oh my god. And if that picture never reveals itself, it feels like a letdown, not a tragedy. The bill now moves to the Senate where it is expected to be embraced in a similar fashion. Shirley. Kuennes fast-talking exposition, while confusing, seems purposeful, as though the murder were a necessary backstory to be pushed through as quickly as possible in order to get to the heart of the narrative: Andrew Bagbys life and how horrible his death was for those who loved him. You know? MORRISON: It was almost two years after Andrew Bagby's murder, when Shirley Turner's eldest son T.J. drove home to his girlfriend after an. Just like Andrew, you know, happy. Dear Zachary was the most honored film at Cinequest 18 in San Jose, receiving sustained standing ovations from packed houses at all 3 screenings and winning 2 awards - a Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature and the Audience Award. DVD: Amazon | B&N We couldnt actually believe shed (harm Zachary), but we consciously feared she could do that, he said. But afterwards, all wounded and broken down, you will see the power of the human spirit even in the face of the darkest of souls." In January, the film was nominated for Best Documentary by both the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Online Film Critics Society, who also nominated writer/director/composer Kurt Kuenne for Breakthrough Filmmaker of 2008. As one friend said, Hes like the blessing Andrew left behind. It was for Zachary that Andrews parents retired, cashed in all their savings and moved from their lifelong home in Pennsylvania to Newfoundland, where Shirley Jane Turner lived. Bill C-464 when enacted will justify detention in custody for a person accused of a serious crime who is a potential danger to their own minor children. MORRISON: Andrew's body was discovered the following morning with bullets lodged in his face, buttock, chest, the back of his head. Dear Zachary is as devastating as it is because it unravels the way bad things unravel in real life. MORRISON: The girl was Heather, also an aspiring doctor. then one day I realized what it was. CONTRIBUTED BY DAVID AND KATE BAGBY Sixteen years have passed but for the Bagbys the story of the deaths of their only son and grandson resurfaces all the time. Mr. BAGBY: The police didn't give us very much information, but they started. MORRISON: Ah, but there was a lot to say about Andrew. The documentary was originally released in 2008. Mommy loves you. Mr. KUENNE: You know, he said--she said, `Look, I'm not looking for another husband. would be the difference if one person weren't alive? Is it OK? I got to go to the trial. Either she's grabbed Zachary and taken off and she's trying to, escape, and she has a snowball's chance in hell of getting away with that. MORRISON: Despite it all, the Bagbys were thrilled to be living, with Zachary. Sixteen years have passed but for the Bagbysthe story of the deaths of their only son and grandson resurfaces all the time. American authorities asked Canadian, authorities to send her back to the US, which would require an extradition, hearing. helped convince me that she would not hurt Zachary. And one, of the first to see her there was T.J. Shears, the eldest of Shirley's three. (Newfoundland; Shears driving; photo of Shirley and Zachary; water at night; Mr. SHEARS: She said Zachary was being fussy and that just driving him, around would calm him down. I have to tell you that Andrew is dead. For this night they were a couple once again, dancing and drinking together. MORRISON: The girl was Heather, also an aspiring doctor. He said, `The psychotic bitch. Memorial University Medical School. Office Manager. substance to it. Amending Canada's bail code was my goal in releasing "Dear Zachary" publicly; it is my pleasure to announce that goal is now a reality. MORRISON: Do you find yourself going back and playing that back in your mind? Click HERE for ticket information. MORRISON: But as Kurt made his way around the globe, his tribute materialized into something far bigger, and much darker, than anyone could have imagined. I promise within the first five minutes you will be captured by it and you won't be able to tear yourself away. Kate to keep up their end of that bargain. The International Film Music Critics also nominated his musical score for Best Documentary Score of 2008. That's what Kurt does, he's an independent filmmaker. I said, `Find her, and I think you'll find who did this.'. They also went to Ottawa to push the case for Bill C-464, which had been introduced by then Liberal MP Scott Andrews, at a committee hearing. Mr. BAGBY: Without those cell phone records, they couldn't formally charge. The album includes "Andrew", the 8 minute concert work Kurt wrote and recorded in Andrew's memory in 2002. I had a job I loved. There was no way to stop Andrews murder, but there was no way to walk away from Zacharys body and just say hmm, okay, move on," said David.