Dear Zachary: Was Andrew Bagby’s Killer Ever Caught?

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Dear Zachary: Was Andrew Bagby’s Killer Ever Caught?

As a devoted fan of documentaries that delve into the complexities of human nature and the intricacies of real-life events, I find Kurt Kuenne’s “Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father” to be an unparalleled masterpiece. The film stands out as a poignant testament to friendship, love, loss, and justice that resonates deeply with my own experiences and emotions.

Kurt Kuenne’s documentary “Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father” recounts the murder of Andrew Bagby, allegedly committed by Shirley Turner. Initially starting the film as a friend and documentarian, Kuenne continued after learning that Turner was pregnant with their son, Zachary. Consequently, “Dear Zachary” evolved into a personal video journal for Kuenne to introduce Zachary to his late father.

1. According to reports, Shirley Turner, who is suspected of killing Andrew Bagby, shot him five times at a park in Pennsylvania in November 2001. The ex-couple, Turner and Bagby, had only recently broken up two days before the murder, as stated by The New Yorker. Following an investigation, she was linked to the crime. Subsequently, she escaped to Canada and welcomed Bagby’s son, Zachary, in July 2002.

1. “Dear Zachary delves deeply into the court proceedings following Andrew Bagby’s homicide, culminating in a heartrending murder-suicide. Regrettably, Turner escaped prosecution for the criminal acts.”

Dear Zachary: What happened to Andrew Bagby’s alleged killer Shirley Turner?

Andrew Bagby’s accused killer, Shirley Turner, died in a murder-suicide before facing just for her crimes, per National Post. In the months after Zachary’s birth, Turner fought her U.S. extradition to stand trial on murder charges after fleeing to Newfoundland, Canada. Moreover, she was embroiled in a custody battle with Bagby’s parents, who also moved to the area to secure Zachary’s custody. David Bagby would later write a book about their experience and also appear in the Dear Zachary documentary.

In November 2002, I found myself back in custody following a Supreme Court order in Newfoundland. I stayed there as the federal justice minister weighed my extradition to U.S. officials. Approximately two months later, an appeal court judge granted my release. The reasoning behind this decision was that the order wasn’t intended to protect the public at large. Furthermore, the judge emphasized that there was no evidence of a psychological disorder suggesting potential harm to the general public.

18th of August, 2003 saw Shirley Turner bringing Zachary to Conception Bay South. There, she gave the 13-month-old boy Ativan tablets and subsequently jumped into the ocean, resulting in both her and Zachary’s deaths by drowning. Their bodies were discovered on the beach by an Ontario couple walking their dog, as reported by CBC News.

According to reports, Kurt Kuenne produced Dear Zachary as a personal video journal intended for Andrew Bagby’s son Zachary. He stated that he had numerous documentary filmmaker companions at the time (when Zachary was still alive), who were informed about the ongoing situation.

1. Kuenne expressed that they were expressing something like, “Wow, this is the wildest tale I’ve ever come across. You should make it public.” However, he was against the suggestion, as he felt, “Zachary will face enough challenges growing up once he finds out his mother took his father’s life.” He maintained that he wanted to keep his personal affairs private from the media. Later on, when there was no one left to protect anymore, he realized he might need to make this public. He believed it was his duty.

The film contains recollections and homages from Andrew Bagby’s loved ones. It underscores the importance of changes in the American and Canadian judicial processes, revealing how Zachary’s tragic demise might have been avoided.

The documentary “Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father” initially aired in the US on MSNBC back in 2008. Subsequently, it was showcased for the first time in Dublin during the Stranger Than Fiction festival in 2009. Currently, you can watch this film on Amazon Prime Video.

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2024-07-30 10:41