You dont get over it. For readers interested in the emotional impact of violent crime, Dance with the Devil is a vulnerable, devastating book that cannot be missed. On several occasions, it was noted that Zachary had poor attachment to his mother and preferred the company of other adults, particularly his grandparents. The Bagbys were compelled to ensure what happened to their son and grandson never happens again. Along the way, he learned how vast the reaches of his friends influence were. I became very emotional with this horrifying tale of injustice. Turners work took her to Iowa, while Bagby served out medical residencies in New York and Pennsylvania. 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, said David. He was a man whose smiling eyes and kind heart put friends, colleagues and strangers at ease. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites. These events fuel the Bagbys crusade to reform Canadian bail laws to deny bail to accused murderers awaiting trial. Central Coast Ace Hardware Turner later drove home and left a message on Bagby's answering machine. This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 05:40. 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 film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, and was broadcast by MSNBC on 7 December 2008. The documentary was originally released in 2008. I had NO idea what the outcome was going to be. 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. This is an amazing true story that waswell, not conveyed with the same fiery delivery seen in the film "Dear Zachary". He expressed fear to police of "what Dr. Turner would do next. True, heartbreaking story of a son's disastrous love relationship and the son his murderer bore. After seeing the documentary about this case, "Dear Zachary," I was itching to get my hands on this book. [2]:87 She also had an abortion that July, but the father was not known. That same year, Turner started dating Andrew Bagby. A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son. 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. View the profiles of people named David Bagby. 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. Promotional still from "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father" via Oscilloscope Laboratories. On several occasions, he had summoned state troopers to order her to leave. After helping Kurt Kuene with his documentary Dear Zachary: A Letter from a father to his Son I was honored that David Bagby sent me his book as a thank you. I wanted to read this book because I saw a snippet on MSNBC or one of those late night shows, (about the last 7-10 minutes of the show) that was actually the television version of what had taken place back in 2001. Its been years since David Bagby has had a call from a reporter and its on a day when he would be inclined not to answer the phone. 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? Zachary would be 15 now, the same age as their godson. -Managed leading Egyptian companies' accounts with the firm, including in the oil and gas, financial, consumer goods, real estate and automotive sectors. Sharing voices. Andrew was Kate and David's only son, and their "first plan" after taking care of his remains was to take their own lives. 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. All rights reserved, Click here for information on becoming a member. 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. When Dear Zachary was released on DVD, Kuenne sent 400 copies to every single member of Canadian Parliament. "We just liked each other, and we liked doing a lot of the same stuff," Kuenne said recently from his Burbank, CA home. After the child was born the clearly mentally-ill mother wrecked havok on the grandparents lives. Kuenne finished his documentary and dedicated it to the memories of both Bagby and Zachary. Andrew had metTurner, who was 12 years his senior, while they were studying medicine at Memorial University in St. Johns. David Bagby has written such a poignant account of the sordid happenings and has brought both Andrew and Zachary alive on the pages. She was born to the late Rev. While she was serving her medical residency, her supervising physician, who would later describe her as a manipulative, guiltless psychopath, said that she frequently became hostile, yelling, crying, and accusing me of treating her unfairly.. 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. This book is more about how the justice system failed and 2 more people are dead because of it. Theres nothing you can do about it. Related: Must-Read True Crime Books from #1 Bestselling Author Mark Bowden. She could be charming[,] friendly and lively but when caught in an untruth she would become angry, accusatory and loud. 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? First published in 2007, Dance with the Devil: A Memoir of Murder and Loss follows Andrews family as they cope with his death, the short-lived hope of reuniting with his infant son that ended in the worst way imaginable, and the pain and frustration that follow their attempts to wring justice from a complex and often compromised system. ", 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. We are lucky to be alive. Its a part of his life Bagby calls a dance with the devil.. For those who've asked how Kate & David Bagby are doing now, here's a lovely article from Diane Crocker at Newfoundland's The Western Star.. short story. A well written memoir by a father who son was murdered by an ex-girlfriend that was pregnant with his son's child. As most true crime memoirs do, Dance with the Devil explains what the victims were like in life, and the profound effects that their deaths had on those left behind. Ensure local journalism stays in your community by purchasing a membership today. David and Kathleen Bagby, the parents of murdered Latrobe doctor Andrew Bagby, are pleased with how quickly a recent push for bail reform in Canada has gained ground since their grandson was killed in 2003. I don't think I could have done what they did. He set out on an epic transatlantic journey to retrace the steps of his childhood friend, from California to Newfoundland to England Kate Bagbys homeland and where Andrew Bagby spent his summers. [8] Turner was released from Her Majesty's Penitentiary's Clarenville Correctional Centre for Women, and was required to post CAD$75,000 bail, turn in her passports, pay weekly visits to the RNC, promise not to leave the area, and make no attempt to contact Bagby's family. Andrew Bagby, who never knew Turner was pregnant, was the father . They also have Andrews friends, like Kuenne, who remain in their current lives and with whom they can talk about Andrew. 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. . Written and directed by Kurt Kuenne, MSNBC Films and Oscilloscope Laboratories released Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father on 31 October 2008. She was a homemaker and owned and operated a broiler grow out business with her husband. You dont leave it behind. 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. But its also the emotional toll of attending trials and hearing gruesome stories like theirs played out in court over and over. However, he never came back from his meeting alive. Condensing the saga into a neat, 90-minute package and parting with footage of Andrews friends and family that he had become so attached to was the most difficult part of the project, Kuenne said. Related: 10 Eye-Opening True Crime Books by Mindhunter Author John Douglas. No one in my entire library system owns it either (30+ libraries), so I wound up having to get an interlibrary loan and have this book shipped to me from another state. 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. 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. 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. Bagby arrived at work in an "agitated" state and told Simpson about her appearance but dismissed Simpson's advice to not meet with her in private; Bagby subsequently promised to visit Simpson's house after talking to Turner that evening, but he never showed up. You just carry it.. [2]:494 Turner drowned. In August 2000, Turner moved to Sac City, Iowa, to begin work for Trimark Physicians Corporation. If you're looking for an extremely disturbing documentary film, you'll find it on these lists! I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. [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. Written by the father of the murder victim, you learn all the details that led up to his son's murder and the preventable murder of his grandson. Turner alternately told her shooting instructor that her gun had been stolen. Canadian officials also released her on bail even though she was detained as the culpable suspect in the case. I got to put on the record the fact that I would like a much stronger bill, said David. By the time she was charged with first-degree murder,she had returned to St. John's and gave birth to Zachary in July 2002. The Bagby's lived a nightmare that no person should ever have to go through and I admire their courage and strength. Turner was wearing a black dress, carried a bouquet of red roses and had two suicide notes on her. Turner claimed that she was pregnant by the man, but no evidence was found showing this to be the case. Turner killed herself and Zachary before she could be tried for murder. 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. Those who have worked through some of the grief try to instil in them there is some kind of life after loss. 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. Justice Gale Welshmaintained that "there is no indication of a psychological disorder that would give concern about potential harm to the public generally.". 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. However, his coworkers worst fears were confirmed the next morning, when Andrew Bagbys body was found by a park ranger in Keystone State Park. If you're unfamiliar with Dear Zachary, it tells the story of Andrew Bagby, a 28-year-old doctor whose life was ended by his ex-loverShirleyJane Turner. You will get an email reminder before your trial ends. Since 1982, Turner had taken out baby bonuses for her children from a scholarship fund with the expectation of sending them to university. 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. [22] The Dr. Andrew Bagby and son Zachary Bursary Fund supports students at the Memorial University of Newfoundland.[23]. At the time, Bagby had just ended a relationship with Dr. Shirley Jane Turnera woman more than a dozen years his senior, and the prime suspect in his violent death. However, Newfoundland Justice Gale Welsh believed Turner, then 40, wasn't a threat to society, despite the murder charges awaiting her in Pennsylvania. Its heartbreaking, said Kate, who recalls last seeing Zachary the evening before he was killed. In this brutally tragic true story a Father (David Bagby, author) and Mother deal with the slaying of their son by his ex-girlfriend. When another man scorns her during this time, she kills herself and the baby, all to the horror of Andrew's parents. Well never understand how anybody can ignore the fact that murderers are dangerous, he said. She has to veer away from the image and instead see him as a living being. 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. Andrew was 28 years old at the time of death. David and Kate Bagby must have been saints to have had to tolerate personal dealings with their only child's murderess,and basically have to groval to her to even see their precious only-ever grandchild.Yet,they did whatever they could for the sake of Zachary.Most people (myself included) would have made away with Shirley Turner the first chance they got.Why should they have even been put in that insane situation in the first place? AN AMAZING BOOK WHICH HONOURS TWO AMAZING LIVES. Turner's second husband claimed that she only used the belt as a threat in his interview. He had been shot five times in the face, the chest, the buttocks, and the back of the head with CCI .22 bullets. When he broke up with her, he said that she called him incessantly, left threatening voicemails, struck him in the face, and followed him from Newfoundland to Pennsylvania, where she took a cocktail of over-the-counter drugs outside his apartment in an apparent suicide attempt. He had been shot five times in the face, chest, buttocks, and the back of the head. With Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby. Scott Andrews, the MP who introduced the bill, said that he hoped it would give the Bagbys some sense that someone has heard their cries, and show that Canada would change the law to make sure something this tragic will never happen again.. In 2003, 13-month-old Zacharys body washed up on Manuels Beach, along with Turners. and allowed to play Russian Roulette with her baby's and other people's lives is totally ludacris. The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named the film one of the five top documentaries of 2008. [7] By Turner's account, she visited Bagby's residence in Syracuse seven times while he visited her once in Sac City. He was the closest thing to a brother I had, Oetinger said. 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." -Drafted and finalized press releases, articles, annual reports, websites, earnings releases and investor . The film went on to win jury and audience awards at numerous film festivals and was named one of the best films of the year by Slant Magazine, The Oregonian, Time Out Chicago, and the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. [4] The 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. 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. David and Kate Bagby channeled their grief & anguish into changing some Canadian laws. Select this result to view David Warren Bagby's phone number, address, and more. This story is about how the justice system in Canada failed the Bagby's -- not only when it comes to extraditing the murderer of their only son, but in aiding the murder of their only grandchild, Zachary -- their last living link to their son. DAVID BAGBY OBITUARY. . Turner left her car parked near his home in the Kelligrews area of the town, with photographs of herself and Zachary, as well as a used tampon, on the front seat. The case led to a critical overview of Newfoundland's legal and child welfare systems as well as Canada's bail laws. I was truly shocked when I watched it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS. 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!!) I was just hoping more from this book, but I can understand it. In the wake of the shocking turn of events, Andrew's father, David Bagby, wrote a true crime memoir that is described as "a eulogy for a dead son, an elegy for lives cut tragically short, and a castigation of a broken system." [2]:86. 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. ItsaCheckmate allows restaurateurs to focus on what matters: serving up delicious food and delightful dining experiences. 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. 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 . His arguments towards the refusal of parole for alleged murderers is superb and really shows how idiotic the laws can be. That woman then escapes to Canada while evidence against her is gathering, and then she has his baby while the extradition process drags on. Andrew Bagby is murdered in the US by a woman who was angry that he broke up with her. Those new to the group are almost in a stupor as they enter the room. Hed be about to enter senior high and might be planning his future. 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. (HTTP response code 503). As it happened, Turner had a history of unusual behavior. Creating stronger communities. Wasn't anybody willing to step up(besides the Bagbys) and try to rescue that baby?? If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". 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. She had also been accused of stalking an ex-boyfriend, a medical resident who, like Bagby, was over 10 years her junior. It's widely believed that if she hadn't been released, Zachary would probably still be alive today. Andrew Bagby, a gregarious family-practice resident at Latrobe, was found shot to death on Nov. 5, 2001, in Keystone State Park. With its intended recipient now gone, Dear Zachary simultaneously became a memorial and a cry for justice, with the critics consensus at Rotten Tomatoes calling it 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.. Age at Death: 28. Devastated. Andrew Bagby was found dead in a state park just outside Latrobe, Pa., where he was a resident in the local hospital's family medicine program. Police concluded that she was attempting to frame the boyfriend for the planned murdersuicide. Please consider joining us in this mission by becoming a member of the SaltWire Network and helping to make our communities better. We need each other, have each other to get through this.". Coverage from the 2023 Canada Winter Games, Making Canada Better: Atlantic Canadians striving for change, VIDEO: Your daily elite-sports highlight package. 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. I'm rarely the kind of gal that cries during movies or books and I was sobbing. Immortalized in the spellbinding documentary Dear Zachary, this angry, raw, and brutally honest memoir of murder and loss chronicles a systems failure to prevent the death of a child. 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. [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. [11] She then drove with Zachary to nearby Conception Bay South, where the man she had met at the bar lived. Bagbys family and friends later said that they were uncomfortable with the relationship, not merely due to the age difference and to Turners two prior divorces, from which she had three children, but because of Turners off-putting behavior. ", Is there a greater nightmare than people hinting that your child is gone but not confirming it? If you dont figure out how to live with it, youll kill yourself or waste away and die, Bagby said. I can only imagine this book to be heartbreaking. Though the Bagbys shied away from media attention during the legal battle, well talk to anybody with a microphone now, David Bagby said, hoping their actions will put political pressure on Canadian lawmakers to reform bail laws. Eight months later, Turner purchased a lethal amount of Lorazepam, drugged both herself and her infant son, strapped him to her chest, and jumped into the ocean at Conception Bay South in Newfoundland. It has been our privilege to have the trust and support of our East Coast communities for the last 200 years. If such laws had been in place, Zachary Turner would be 6 years old and wrapping up first grade. Canadian authorities' decisioncontradicted the advisement of Pennsylvaniaprosecutors. And if you haven't seen it, you need to. Died: January 5, 2022 in Statesville, NC David R. Bagby, 64 of Statesville, NC and formerly of Streator passed away Wednesday (January 5, 2022) at the Gordon Hospice Home in Statesville, NC.. 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. 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. Unfortunately, it went out of print and is very expensive to purchase. According to The New Yorker, the "heart of the [film's] narrative" centers around "Andrew Bagbys life and how horrible his death was for those who loved him.". Authorities later determined his former lover Dr. Shirley Turner,. We want this story in as many heads as possible because we want people as upset and angry as we are, David Bagby said. I read on Netflix it's best you know nothing about the story, and that is so true. David Bagby later wrote a book about their tragic ordeal, choosing the title Dance with the Devil. While keeping a matter-of-fact tone throughout the book, bursts of emotion break through and you can really feel the pain that the Bagby's went through. 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. David Bagby The Bagbys still hold a bitterness when they talk about how they were failed by a legal system that let Turner out on bail and allowed her to retain custody of Zachary. CORNER BROOK, N.L. On October 31, 2008, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne premiered the documentary Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father at Slamdance Film Festival. On 4 July 2003, Turner met a young man at a bar in St. John's. [16] The provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador accepted the report's conclusions and its 29 recommendations. The child, a boy, was born on 9 July 1982. 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. Tragic doesn't even come close to describing this case. Related: 11 True Crime YouTube Channels Every True Crime Aficionado Needs to Watch. But had Andrew not gone to medical school here and therefore never laid eyes on Turner, there are no guarantees he might have escaped his fate, Bagby said. What he and his wife went through is truly disgusting. More appropriately, it is written assuming we know the story and want to find out details of the why and the how. Everyone could see how far off the deep end Shirley Turner was, including the very justice system that continued to set her free and place an innocent child in her arms. There is only so much that Kurt could fit in an hour and a half and I learned so much more by reading things from David's own words. Mrs. Bagby and her husband were. 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. I wish I never had the opportunity to make this film, Kuenne said, adding that hed rather have his friend Andrew alive. [14] According to filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, Doucet later left Newfoundland and relocated elsewhere in Canada.[15]. Bagbys co-workers described him as agitated that day, and his supervising physician advised him not to meet with Turner alone. A 2006 inquiry found serious shortcomings in how the province's social services system handled the case, suggesting that the judges, prosecutors, and child welfare agencies involved were more concerned with presuming Shirley's innocence than with protecting Zachary. In the years after Zacharys death, the Bagbys fought for reform, lobbying for changes to the Criminal Code of Canada to make it more difficult for people accused of murder to get bail. After Doucet broke up with Turner and moved elsewhere in Newfoundland, she began inundating him with phone calls. [20] The Film Vault included the film on their list of the "Top 5 Good Movies You Never Want to See Again". 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. The experience with Turner led that St. John's practice to make "constructive changes" in its residency evaluation process. No spoilers here for my friends but you must watch this film. Luckily, they chose to go on and fight for their son, especially after finding out he had a child on the way. David Russell Bagby, 64, of Statesville, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. In the wake of the shocking turn of events, Andrews father, David Bagby, wrote a true crime memoir that is described as a eulogy for a dead son, an elegy for lives cut tragically short, and a castigation of a broken system..