'Under the Bridge': How the murder of 14-yr-old bullying victim Reena Virk inspired chilling Hulu series
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Under the Bridge,' Hulu's latest crime drama series, is based on a true story about a victim of bullying.
Starring Riley Keough, Lily Gladstone, Izzy G, Chloe Guidry, Michael Buie, Ezra Farouke, and Archie Panjabi in pivotal roles, 'Under the Bridge' premiered on Hulu on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
The series, based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey, recounts the tragic murder case of Reena Virk, a bullied teenage Canadian girl.
Who was Reena Virk?
In 1997, in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada, 14-year-old Reena Virk tragically lost her life in a brutal attack by a group of teenagers.
Reena's father immigrated from India, while her mother hailed from an Indo-Canadian family that had embraced the Jehovah's Witness religion after immigrating to Canada.
In school, Reena reportedly faced relentless bullying due to her appearance, weight, race, ethnicity, and religion, as reported by The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Feeling constrained by the lack of freedom at home, she resorted to drastic measures. In 1996, she falsely accused her father of sexual molestation, hoping to be placed in a foster home where she believed she would have more freedom, as reported by CBC.
Manjit Virk, her father, was arrested on charges of sexual abuse, but the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. Reena eventually returned home.
What happened to Reena Virk?
On November 14, 1997, Reena's friend invited her to Craigflower Bridge for a party. A fight suddenly broke out under the bridge, during which one girl, who had reportedly been the subject of rumors spread by Reena, extinguished a burning cigarette on Reena's forehead, as reported by The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Reena was then surrounded and attacked by a group of seven girls and one boy. The relentless barrage of punches and kicks left her defenseless, unable to escape the onslaught of violence.
Despite the ordeal she had endured, Reena managed to walk away from the initial attack. However, her escape was short-lived, as she was followed by two of the original assailants, Kelly Ellard, 15, and Warren Glowatski, 16.
According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, Reena was subjected to further violence; punched again, her head was smashed against a tree. Subsequently, she was dragged unconscious into the Gorge Waterway, where she tragically drowned.
After her parents reported her missing, an extensive search was conducted to locate Reena. On November 22, 1997, Reena's partially dressed body was discovered near the shore at the Gorge Inlet.
The coroner's autopsy revealed significant injuries to Reena's body, including multiple blows and bruising to her head and abdomen.
Initially, authorities suspected that Reena's death was the result of drowning, given that her body was found in the water.
However, upon further examination during the autopsy, it became apparent that the true cause of death was severe injuries sustained during the assault.
Did Reena Virk receive justice?
In February 1998, six girls involved in the initial attack on Reena faced prosecution in youth court. Three of the girls confessed to committing assault, while the remaining three were convicted of the same charge after a trial.
They received sentences for their involvement in Reena's beating, ranging from 60-day conditional sentences to one year in jail.
In 1999, Warren, the only male participant in the crime, was convicted of second-degree murder. He received a life sentence with no eligibility for parole for seven years.
Kelly and Warren were accused of Reena’s murder, and despite their young ages, they were prosecuted in adult court because of the severity of the crime.
Kelly was convicted of second-degree murder in adult court, where she was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of full parole for five years.
How to stream 'Under the Bridge?'
'Under the Bridge' is currently available for streaming on Hulu.
To view the series, you must have a subscription to the streaming service, which is divided into ad-supported and ad-free versions.
The package that includes advertising is available for just $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Additionally, the package without advertisements is $17.99 per month.
'Under the Bridge' trailer