Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of assault and murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Under the Bridge is a true-crime drama series that premiered on Hulu on April 17, 2024. The ongoing delves into the brutal assault and murder of Reena Virk by a group of other teenagers. This includes the Shoreline Six, who were students of Saanich’s Shoreline School.
Reena Virk was 14 years old when she disappeared from Saanich on Vancouver Island. An investigation then revealed that Virk was last seen at a party that she was invited to on November 14, 1997. A group of teenagers at the party, which included the Shoreline Six, allegedly beat up and tortured Reena Virk before two of the teenagers, Warren Glowatski and Kelly Ellard, killed her, according to People Magazine.
Warren Glowatski was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He was, however, given the opportunity for parole after seven years of serving his sentence. Kelly Ellard was also found guilty of second-degree murder and continues to serve time in prison. She changed her name to Kerry Marie Sim. The remaining members of the Shoreline Six included Missy Pleich, Nicole Cook, Courtney Keith, Nicole Patterson, and Gail Ooms, who all pleaded guilty to assault. They all received sentences ranging from 60 days to 1 year, TIME reported.
In school, rumors suggested that she had been lying about one of the girls who bullied her. As told in Under the Bridge, Reena allegedly stole Nicole Cook’s phonebook and contacted her friends. She then told her friends that Cook had AIDS, that she had colored contact lenses, and so on.
What did the Shoreline Six do to Reena Virk?
On November 14, 1997, Nicole Cook reportedly wanted to get back at Reena Virk for spreading rumors about her. The Shoreline Six violently beat Reena, and Glawotski, who was from outside the group, joined them. They reportedly put a cigarette on her forehead before they began kicking and beating Reena. Although the rest of the group then dispersed after consistently attacking Reena, 16-year-old Glawotski and 15-year-old Ellard stayed and watched Reena drown. In fact, Ellard held Reena underwater until she died.
Reena Virk’s body was found on November 22, 1997, eight days after she went missing. At the time of the murder, Reena was living in a foster home owing to her unstable relationship with her parents. Considering her estranged ties with her family, they allegedly did not panic immediately when Reena did not return home but grew suspicious as time passed.
Later, authorities found the jacket Reena Virk had been wearing that day in Kelly Ellard’s closet. The jacket had saltwater stains. Experts confirmed that the stains were from the water of the Gorge where Reena’s body was found. However, Ellard denied involvement in the murder. An autopsy revealed that Reena suffered multiple blows throughout her body. She also had a convulsion injury, which is frequent in car crash victims.
Under the Bridge is an eight-episode series that dramatizes the events preceding Reena Virk’s murder. It is based on a 2005 book by Rebecca Godfrey, who researched extensively about the teenagers in her hometown. The series is now streaming on Hulu.
