Under the Bridge true story – what happened to Reena Virk?

by

The true-crime drama “Under the Bridge” debuted on Disney Plus last year and can now be found on ITVX as well. Additionally, it’s currently being aired on ITV1.

This TV show features Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough in the main roles. The plot revolves around the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl named Reena Virk, portrayed by Vritika Gupta, and the subsequent police investigation that ensued.

The story is based on Rebecca Godfrey’s 2005 book with the same title, and it delves into the experiences of character Cam Bentland, a police officer, and the author herself, who is also a journalist.

On the night of November 14, 1997, an incident that is currently under investigation happened. This incident occurred when Virk left for a party in Saanich, a suburb of Victoria, British Columbia, and did not return home.

It’s clear that the show is packed with impactful scenes, leaving viewers curious about the true incidents that served as its inspiration. Now, let me shed some light on the fate of Virk: What became of him in reality?

Read on for everything you need to know about the true story behind Under the Bridge.

Under the Bridge true story: What happened to Reena Virk?

In 1997, Reena Virk was a 14-year-old girl residing in Saanich, which is on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Her parents, Manjit (an Indian immigrant) and Suman (of Indo-Canadian descent), were followers of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as was their family.

Throughout her life, Virk often grappled with the challenges posed by bullying. She yearned for acceptance, leading her to connect with a circle of misfits she encountered while they were smoking in a local park.

To blend in, it’s said that she began using cannabis and cigarettes, embraced East Coast hip hop, painted her nails blue, and updated her wardrobe.

Additionally, Virk began to have disagreements with her family and at one point left home. In 1996, she made accusations against her father for physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and was temporarily placed in foster care. However, she later retracted the allegation, and after her passing, it was reported that social workers had not adequately investigated the validity of her claim before moving her.

In the moments leading up to her passing, it was alleged that Virk was spreading gossip and snatching someone’s love interest among her newer acquaintances. On November 14th, she received an invitation to join them for a gathering at a local field. A substantial number of people showed up, but later, a smaller crowd shifted to another location, with Virk following them.

In this incident, eight adolescents became involved, with the altercation commencing after one of them attempted to extinguish a cigarette on their own head. As she attempted to escape, several others encircled her.

Afterwards, they viciously assaulted her. One attempted to ignite her hair, another struck her head against a tree, and several kicked her repeatedly, both in the head and body.

They followed up by brutally attacking her; one person tried lighting her hair on fire, another hit her head against a tree, while numerous others continuously kicked her, hitting both her head and body.

At a certain moment, many teenagers departed, yet as Virk made her way home, she was assaulted for a second time, leading to her losing consciousness. The medical examiner later stated that her injuries would probably have been fatal, but some of her attackers additionally dragged her to the river and submerged her in it.

After seven days, the authorities managed to discover her body, which was immersed in the river.

In the heat of the moment, I found myself being grilled by investigators, along with my fellow teenagers who were pointing fingers at each other. Lo and behold, Virk’s jacket, heavily soaked with saltwater, was unearthed in one of our wardrobes. Time passed, and it was ultimately Warren Glowatski, the lone male among us, who admitted to the heinous act. Six of us girls eventually owned up to our role in the assault.

The entire process spanned more than a dozen years, as intricacies related to the ages of the offenders (all aged between 14 and 16) necessitated extensive deliberation.

Who killed Reena Virk?

In my case, Glowatski and Kelly Ellard found themselves facing charges as adults, given the gravity of the offenses we were suspected of committing.

In 1998, six of the girls received sentences that ranged from 60-day conditional sentences up to a year in prison.

What happened to Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski?

In the following year, Glowatski was convicted of second-degree murder and given a sentence of life imprisonment, with the chance for parole after seven years. However, he was granted full parole in the year 2010.

In the year 2000, Ellard was convicted for second-degree murder and received a life sentence in prison. He might be eligible for parole five years later.

In 2004, Ellard’s first trial resulted in issues with questioning, leading to a retrial. However, an agreement wasn’t reached during this second trial. A third trial followed in 2005, where she was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with the chance for parole after seven years.

Ellard appealed her conviction in 2006, but in 2009, her murder conviction was re-instated.

Ellard was granted conditional day parole in November 2017.

Are the other characters in Under the Bridge based on real people?

Riley Keough’s character in Under the Bridge is based on a real person.

Keough portrays Rebecca Godfrey, the authentic investigative journalist and author who delved into the case and penned a book about it, which hit the shelves in 2005.

The book “Under the Bridge: The True Story of the Murder of Reena Virk” significantly influenced the plot and development of the Hulu/Disney Plus series.

In the story, the character Cam, a local detective working on the case, isn’t modeled after any particular real person.

In essence, Cam symbolizes the numerous police officers and investigators who tirelessly worked towards identifying the culprit and ensuring justice for Reena.

Read More

2025-07-25 16:07