Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Reena Virk was a 14-year-old Canadian girl who was murdered in Saanich, British Columbia, in 1997. According to ELLE, she studied at Colquitz Junior Secondary. Rebecca Godfrey, the author of Under the Bridge (a true crime book based on this case), described it as “a rare combination of boldness and innocence”.
Virk’s parents were Manjit and Suman, both of Indian origin. The family initially practiced Hinduism; however, they converted to the Jehovah’s Witness religion years ago. Virk reportedly didn’t get along with her parents and socialized with a group of teenagers, among whom was Nicole Cook. According to Godfrey’s book, Virk supposedly spread rumors that Ellard had fake breasts and AIDS and wore colored contact lenses.
On the night of November 14, 1997, Cook reportedly yelled at Virk for attempting to ruin her life. Virk responded by calling Cook a ‘bi*ch’, and this led to a massive fight that left the former bleeding. There were 14 girls and 2 boys at the scene that night. However, only a few of them participated in this battering. Subsequently, the heavily injured Virk walked away from the scene, but Kelly Ellard (Nicole Cook’s friend) and Warren Glowatski followed her. A few moments later, Ellard attacked the 14-year-old again and dragged her under the water. She held her underwater until Virk died.
Warren Glowatski was convicted of second-degree murder. Glowatski’s received a life sentence with no possibility of parole for seven years. According to CBC, he was released on parole in 2010. He even moved into an apartment but has struggled to find a job. Furthermore, per Distractify, he has led a quiet life following his release.
The 2010 Crime Stories episode, The Bully Kills, showcased this horrific case.
What happened on the night of Reena Virk’s murder?
According to CBC, Warren Glowatski reportedly received a day’s parole in 2007 with Manjit and Suman Virk’s support. The couple was present during his hearing, and he profusely thanked them for their backing. The then 26-year-old stated, “I hope that one day I will be able to be as caring and selfless.”
According to ELLE, Rebecca Godfrey described the night of Reena Virk’s murder in detail in her book Under the Bridge. The 14-year-old’s friends reportedly invited her to a party. Initially, she was reluctant to go because she was caught speaking rumors about Cook, yet she gave in.
On the night of November 14, 1997, at 9:12 P.M., Virk and her peers saw the explosion of a Russian satellite in the sky. Soon, a girl appeared and announced that she’d been summoned to “fight a girl”. Virk assumed this was Cook’s way of exacting vengeance and began fleeing. Several girls ran and eventually caught up to her and ripped her bus pass to shreds.
They then took her beneath the bridge on Gorge Waterway, and Kelly screamed at her. This confrontation soon turned intense, and Kelly put a cigarette on the deceased’s forehead. The teenagers then began beating Virk, and the night ended with her death. Officials discovered her body eight days later, on November 22, 1997.
