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Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a 2008 American documentary film written, directed, produced, edited, shot and scored by Kurt Kuenne.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a 2008 American documentary film written, directed, produced, edited, shot and scored by Kurt Kuenne. It began as a tribute to Kuenne’s murdered friend Andrew Bagby and became a film about the custody battle over Bagby’s son, Zachary Turner.

Background

The documentary follows the death of Andrew Bagby, a Pennsylvania doctor who was killed in 2001, and the aftermath involving his ex-girlfriend Shirley Turner.

Production

Kuenne originally intended the film as a memorial for Bagby’s son, but the story expanded as the custody and extradition case developed.

Release

The film premiered at Slamdance in January 2008 and was later released in theatres in the United States on October 31, 2008.

Reception and legacy

The documentary became known for its emotional impact and its treatment of grief, justice, and custody proceedings, and it has remained a notable example of true-crime filmmaking.

Key facts

  • The film was created by Kurt Kuenne, who was Andrew Bagby’s close friend.
  • It focuses on the murder of Andrew Bagby and the subsequent legal and custody events involving Bagby’s son, Zachary Turner.
  • The film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2008 and had a wider release on October 31, 2008.
  • Its running time is 93 minutes.
  • The documentary has been widely classified as true crime and social-issue documentary programming.
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Canadian context

The film’s story includes Canadian legal proceedings, including Shirley Turner’s flight to Newfoundland and the custody case involving Zachary Turner, making it particularly relevant to Canadian audiences.[5][7][9]

Frequently asked questions

What is Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father about?
It is a documentary about Andrew Bagby’s murder and the later custody dispute involving his son, Zachary Turner.
Who directed the film?
It was directed by Kurt Kuenne.
When was it released?
It premiered in January 2008 at Slamdance and was released on October 31, 2008.
How long is the documentary?
Its runtime is 93 minutes.
Is it a true-crime documentary?
Yes. It is commonly described as a documentary and true-crime film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Zachary:_A_Letter_to_a_Son_About_His_Father
    Supports: Basic film metadata, release year, runtime, and subject overview.
  2. International Documentary Association — https://www.documentary.org/online-feature/meet-filmmakers-kurt-kuenne-dear-zachary-letter-son-about-his-father
    Supports: Andrew Bagby’s murder, Shirley Turner’s move to Newfoundland, pregnancy, and the film’s shifting focus.
  3. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70095159
    Supports: Film description, documentary categorization, and subject summary.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1202867-dear_zachary
    Supports: Synopsis, release date, genre, and runtime.