Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder and assault. Reader discretion is advised.
On November 14, 1997, 14-year-old Reena Virk disappeared after attending a party in Saanich, British Columbia. Eight days later, authorities discovered her body and sent it for an autopsy. Reports suggest that a group of boys and girls started hitting Virk after an argument. Although she tried to escape the scene, Virk was once again attacked by a couple of her peers, which resulted in her death. The Hulu series Under the Bridge will examine what happened to Reena Virk. It stars Lily Gladstone, Riley Keough, and Vritika Gupta in pivotal roles.
Per People Magazine, Reena Virk had a strained relationship with her parents and had a history of running from home. The outlet also noted that she allegedly made false accusations of sexual abuse against her father. However, she later renounced her statement. On November 14, 1997, Virk was invited to a party where she was repeatedly punched and kicked by her peers. The Sun reported that the fight began when one of the culprits, Nicole Cook, confronted Virk about spreading rumors about her. Subsequently, the girl put a cigarette out on Virk’s forehead.
A few moments later, all the other group members started punching and kicking Reena Virk, per The Sun. Although she tried apologizing, Cook and her friends continued their attack. Virk did manage to escape the group and started to walk back home. However, two of Cook’s friends, Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski, followed Virk and continued their assault. The publication mentioned that Ellard and Glowatski “dragged” her body into the George Waterway. As a result, Virk died by drowning.
According to People Magazine, the autopsy showed that Reena Virk had a “convulsion injury as often seen in car crash victims.”
Were Reena Virk’s killers ever convicted?
As the investigations progressed, authorities apprehended seven teenagers for the death of Reena Virk. The Sun reported that Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski were tried as adults in the Reena Virk murder case. Per CBC, the court found Glowatski guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison. In 2007, the court granted him a day parole. CBC noted that Glowatski apologized to Virk’s parents during the parole hearing.
He said, “I hope that one day I will be able to be as caring, selfless. I don’t take your support for granted.” Glowatski added, “The topic of marriage came up and I realized just what I had taken away from Suman and Manjit. They reached out and offered me their hand and their care.”
Meanwhile, Ellard received the same sentence in 2000. However, People Magazine mentioned that the court overturned her conviction after an appeal. Subsequently, the second trial ended in a mistrial. In February 2005, Kelly Ellard went on a trial for the third time, per CBC. During the third trial, Glowatski testified against Ellard and noted how the duo beat her. In the closing arguments, the prosecution team indicated that testimonies prove that Ellard killed Reena Virk.
According to CBC, the jury began deliberating in the murder case. The publication noted that the jury delivered a guilty verdict after five days of deliberations. The court sentenced her to life in prison with the possibility of parole after seven years. However, in September 2008, the B.C. Court of Appeals ordered a fourth trial in the Reena Virk murder case. Almost a year later, the Supreme Court of Canada restored her conviction.
Is Under the Bridge available for streaming?
The first two episodes of Under the Bridge are now available for streaming on Hulu. The remaining six episodes will air every week.
