A Timeline Of The Horrific Case Behind 'Dear Zachary'
October 1993: Shirley Turner Is Investigated For Abusing Two Of Her Three Children
One of Turner's former roommates became so alarmed by Turner's behavior towards her children that he abandoned his tenancy. He also reported Turner to a psychiatrist at the university she was attending at the time.
The psychiatrist later filed a report with social services, and Turner's children confirmed the allegations. It was concluded that her eldest daughter and son were often left unattended for days on end, and - when Turner was home - she would strike them with a variety of objects, ranging from open hands to belts.
Nobody from the department of social services contacted Turner, and the case was dropped on January 11, 1994.
1994: Turner Dumps Her Children With Their Respective Fathers While She Attempts A Rocky Medical School Path
Turner retained custody of all three of her children. In 1994, she made the decision to go to school for medicine. After Turner made multiple failed attempts to arrange for the children to reside with different family members, they eventually settled in with their respective fathers.
Benefiting off of the fact her student loans were calculated on the assumption the children remained in her custody, Turner often used her family as an excuse for absences during residency.
April 1999: Turner Attempts Suicide After An Alleged Prolonged Stalking Episode
- Photo:
- Courtesy Photo Bagby Family
- Via National Post
When Turner's long-time boyfriend wished to end their relationship, she allegedly began stalking him. In addition, Turner called him repeatedly. When this wasn't enough, she traveled to him and verbally abused him. In an attempt to quell Turner, the ex-boyfriend allowed her into his home, where she camped out for over a month, refusing to leave him. Turner was prone to emotional outbursts and physical assaults on the man.
The ex-boyfriend took flight once again, this time to Pennsylvania. Turner, still unwilling to leave him alone, went to his home and attempted an elaborate and psychologically disturbing suicide. He found Turner draped in a black dress and holding a dozen roses, coupled with two letters - one of them a suicide note.
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Late 1999: Turner And Andrew Bagby Begin Their Relationship
While attending medical school, Andrew Bagby began dating Turner, who was 12 years older than him. They kept a staggering long-distance relationship. Turner made the travel to visit Bagby seven times, while he came to see her only once.
During their relationship, Turner was abusive towards Bagby, often calling him to verbally harass him. A possessive and jealous Turner also confronted Bagby about his friendship with an ex-girlfriend.
May 29, 2001: Turner Robs Bagby's Apartment
- Photo:
- Courtesy Photo Bagby Family
- Trib Live
As Turner was leaving Bagby's apartment to travel home, she decided to turn around. She informed Bagby she forgot to lock the door and needed to return so she can lock it. Turner, however, ended up making off with a large stash of Bagby's personal belongings.
Upon returning, Bagby discovered someone had robbed him. His laptop, movie and music collection, and many other personal items were gone. With no signs of forced entry, Bagby never filed charges. And, with no evidence of tampering, it was highly likely Turner was the culprit.
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September 2001: Turner Makes Up A Fake Pregnancy, Using It To Psychologically Abuse Bagby And His Loved Ones
- Photo:
- Courtesy Photo Bagby Family
- via National Post
Before Turner's awareness of her actual pregnancy, she had fabricated one. She hung the fake pregnancy over Bagby's head and used it to harass any woman who was close with him. Turner told Bagby's ex-fiancée that she intended to get an abortion, but later told her she intended to keep the child. The conception of Zachary came shortly after this phone call.
A little over a month later, on November 3, Turner confessed to the fake pregnancy and Bagby ended their relationship.
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October 2001: Turner Purchases A Handgun And Receives Specialized Training
Turner got a firearm permit and purchased a .22-caliber handgun. She showed enthusiasm for using the weapon and made a point to take specialized training in order to better handle it.
Her gun, however, had a flaw. The firearm often ejected rounds, a fact Turner later overlooked at the murder scene.
November 5, 2001: Turner Shows Up At Bagby's Home After A Marathon Road Trip
Dropping both work and her shooting lessons for the day, Turner made her journey from Council Bluffs to Bagby's apartment. Turner spent the morning banging on the door and disrupting Bagby, who eventually agreed to meet her in Keystone State Park.
She later spent her time going through Bagby's belongings while he was out of the house, stealing a box of condoms Bagby had purchased for himself.
November 6, 2001: Bagby's Body Is Discovered
As the two had agreed upon, Turner and Bagby met in Keystone State Park on November 5, 2001. At around 8:30 pm, Turner shot Bagby multiple times with her .22-caliber handgun in a parking garage. She shot him five times - though it would have been six, except the sixth bullet had ejected. Andrew's body was found the next day near his car.
This final bullet was a key identifier of Turner's handgun, as her shooting instructor reported her weapon often erred in this way. Turner abandoned the handgun, which was never found, and returned home to Council Bluffs.
December 12, 2001: Turner Is Arrested Then Released
Turner fled to Canada, but the legal system continued to follow. On December 12, she was arrested and the Canadian authorities began the process of extraditing her back to the US. Ignoring Iowa's evidence to extradite Turner, Canada's Justice Gale Welsh set Turner with a bail of $75,000 (CAD) and gave her an extended list of probations, which included the seizure of her passports and weekly check-ins with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC).
Justice Welsh's decision was largely influenced by Turner's pregnancy with Zachary, Bagby's child. Perhaps taking pity upon her, Justice Welsh allowed Turner to remain in Canada rather than return to Iowa.
July 2002: Zachary Turner Is Born
- Photo:
- Courtesy Photo Bagby Family
- via Trib Live
Bagby's mother and father, David and Kate Bagby, fought sternly for the custody of their grandson. Zachary Turner was born in July 2002, and his mother resented the elderly Bagbys. Turner often refused to let David and Kate see Zachary.
In time, Zachary's grandparents won shared custody of the child.
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July 4, 2003: Turner Gets A New Boyfriend And Continues Her Pattern Of Abuse
Turner retained a seemingly unstoppable track record of abusive behavior. Continuing her dating life, Turner found a new boyfriend. The man quickly cut things off with Turner, however, after he found out about her pending criminal charges.
According to reports from the RNC, the ex-boyfriend received hundreds of phone calls from Turner, all filled with threats. Turner denied the allegations. The man never pressed charges, and Turner did not take her eyes off of him.
August 18, 2003: Turner Drowns Herself And Zachary In Conception Bay
- Photo:
- Courtesy Photo Bagby Family
- via National Post
Romantically shunned once again, Turner purchased a heaping amount of Ativan and overdosed herself and Zachary. Turner parked her car in front of her ex-boyfriend's house and littered her front seat with pictures of her and Zachary, as well as a used tampon.
Drugged and erratic, Turner took baby Zachary to the beach, where she strapped him to her chest and jumped into the Atlantic Ocean. They both drowned.
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March 31, 2006: Turner's Psychiatrist Is Found Guilty Of Misconduct
Even though so many systems and individuals were involved in the case, only one party was held directly liable for the deaths of Bagby, Turner, and Zachary. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador found Turner's former psychiatrist, Dr. John Doucet, guilty of misconduct.
Doucet was charged $10,000 (CAD) by the college and instructed to receive psychiatric counseling.
October 2006: 'Turner Review And Investigation' Condemns Social Services For Its Role In The Murders
- Photo:
- Courtesy Photo Bagby Family
- via Trib Live
Upon extensive inquiry, the "Turner Report and Investigation" was released, alleging that Zachary's death was preventable on multiple occasions. According to the report, Newfoundland and Labrador's social services did not provide the necessary action needed to preserve Zachary's life.
In addition, the report condemns the services for their misconduct and lack of research, regard, and empathy.
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October 31, 2008: David Bagby's Book About The Tragedy Is Transformed Into An Award-Winning Documentary
David Bagby, devastated by the loss of his son and grandson, wrote a book entitled Dance with the Devil: A Memoir of Murder and Loss. He also features prominently in a documentary made about the killings. The film, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, tells the story of the murders of both Andrew and Zachary. Helmed by Kurt Kuenne, Andrew's childhood friend, the production began before Zachary died.
Originally intended as a tribute to Andrew's life for close family and friends, the documentary transformed into a call for change, not only to bring justice to Zachary, but to protect future families endangered by social services and legal systems that turn a blind eye in extreme cases.
December 2010: Zachary's Bill Became Law In Canada
Close friend of Bagby and director of the Dear Zachary documentary Kurt Kuenne began an aggressive campaign to screen the film before every member of the House of Commons of Canada. He wasn't alone in his actions and, soon, large screenings were being held for senators and representatives in the Parliament of Canada.
In turn, Zachary's Bill was passed. The bill proposed the inclusion of a criminal code that denied bail to anyone who was a threat to any persons under the age of 18.
