David and Kate Bagby tragically lost their son Andrew and grandson Zachary in a series of events involving Andrew’s ex-girlfriend Shirley Turner. Later, they became advocates for legal reform.
Andrew Bagby, a young doctor, was found murdered in Pennsylvania in 2001. His ex-girlfriend, Shirley Turner, was suspected of the crime. After Andrew’s death, Turner revealed she was pregnant with his child, Zachary. She fled to Canada while pregnant, exploiting the extradition process to avoid trial in the United States. In Canada, she gave birth to Zachary.
David and Kate Bagby, Andrew’s parents, moved to Canada to fight for custody of their grandson and to push for Turner’s extradition. Tragically, while out on bail, Turner killed Zachary and then herself in 2003.
The Bagbys channeled their grief into action, advocating for changes in Canadian law to prevent similar tragedies. Their efforts contributed to the passage of “Zachary’s Bill” (Bill C-464), which aimed to protect children from individuals posing a significant risk to them. The Bagbys’ story is documented in the book “Dance with the Devil” by David Bagby and the film “Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father” by Kurt Kuenne, a close friend of Andrew Bagby.
