NEED TO KNOW
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Warren Glowatski and Kelly Ellard both received sentences relating to the murder of Reena Virk, a British Columbia teenager
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Glowatski was 16 years old at the time of the crime, and spent 10 years in prison
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He was released on parole in 2010 with the support of Virk’s parents
Warren Glowatski was one of two teenagers who went to jail for the murder of Reena Virk. Ten years later, he was granted parole — with the help of his victim’s parents.
In 1997, a group of teenagers beat 14-year-old Reena under a bridge near Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. After Reena staggered away, Glowatski and Kelly Ellard followed her, ultimately killing her.
These events were covered in the popular 2024 Hulu miniseries Under the Bridge, starring Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough. The end of the series featured Glowatski’s trial, in which he was sentenced to life in prison on a second-degree murder charge, and Reena’s parents’ subsequent meeting with him.
Through the restorative justice process, which involves the criminal speaking with and making amends with the victims’ family, Reena’s parents — mother Suman and father Manjit — were able to express just how much Warren’s actions had harmed them. Meanwhile, Warren was able to apologize and express remorse.
“Seeing what he had to say for himself, it doesn’t make things right or take away the pain, but you can let go of the questions you have and put it behind you,” Suman told the Vancouver Sun in 2009. “It gave us a voice to say whatever we needed to.”
So where is Warren Glowatski now? Here’s everything to know about what happened to the teen after he was convicted of Reena Virk’s murder.
Who is Warren Glowatski and what was his involvement in Reena Virk’s death?
Heather Spears/The Canadian Press via AP
Warren Glowatski, charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault in the death of Reena Virk, during his trial on April 20, 1999 in Victoria, British Columbia.
According to a 2017 Vice article by Rebecca Godfrey, who wrote the book Under the Bridge, which the Hulu series is based on, Glowatski was a troubled teenager whose mother suffered from alcoholism and hadn’t been around in a long time. He moved around frequently with his father and had an affinity for gang culture.
In 1997, 16-year-old Glowatski attacked Reena with a group of teenagers under a bridge near Saanich. After the initial assault, Reena escaped to the other side of the bridge, but Glowatski and then-15-year-old Ellard followed and took part in drowning her.
Glowatski went to trial in 1999 and was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after seven years.
“My thoughts back then were about being powerful,” Glowatski told a parole board in 2007, according to CBC. “I call it bravado, or trying to be a gangster. I was screaming out for attention in all the wrong places and I got it.”
How long was Warren Glowatski in prison?
Darko Sikman/Hulu
Geoff Gustafson and Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton in ‘Under The Bridge’.
Glowatski was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
While in prison, he expressed remorse for his actions, began speaking to at-risk youth about the dangers of bullying others and participated in the restorative justice process.
He ultimately spent seven full years in prison before receiving day parole in 2007 and an additional three years living there until he was released in 2010.
Who portrayed Warren Glowatski in Under the Bridge?
Darko Sikman/Hulu
Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton in ‘Under The Bridge’.
Glowatski was portrayed by Javon Walton in Under the Bridge. Walton previously played Ashtray, Fez’s (Angus Cloud) drug-dealing partner, in Euphoria.
Walton spoke with Today about the role and how it raises awareness for the consequences of bullying, as well as how Glowatski sought redemption.
“Teenagers can be pretty mean sometimes just because of underlying problems they have,” Walton said. “The show really speaks out on that and does a really good job of raising awareness for the murder and bullying in general.”
“There’s no really going back from what he did, but at the same time, there’s definitely been a little bit of redemption,” Walton continued. “He now speaks about bullying and raises awareness.”
What is Warren Glowatski’s relationship with Reena Virk’s parents?
Richard Lam/The Canadian Press via AP
Reena Virk’s parents Suman (L) and Manjit Virk and her grandfather Mukand Pallan leave British Columbia Supreme Court on July 7, 2004 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Suman’s initial reaction to participating in restorative justice with Glowatski was one of reluctance, she told the Vancouver Sun. However, once they spoke with Glowatski, Reena’s parents forgave him and even showed up to support him at his 2007 parole hearing.
“I hope that one day I will be able to be as caring, selfless,” Warren said to Suman and Manjit at his parole hearing, per CBC. “I don’t take your support for granted.”
Glowatski said that meeting Reena’s parents was the most moving part of his rehabilitation process, particularly when they brought up how they never got to see the things Reena would do, including get married.
“The topic of marriage came up and I realized just what I had taken away from Suman and Manjit,” Glowatski said at his 2007 parole hearing. “They reached out and offered me their hand and their care.”
Much of the penultimate episode of Under the Bridge was focused on Glowatski. Series creator Quinn Shephard told Variety in May 2024 that she wanted to emphasize Suman’s forgiveness to show that it could help stop harmful cycles.
“Suman’s radical forgiveness of Warren needed to be the centerpiece of the episode,” she said. “It became about stopping cycles of violence through things that really happened. We knew what they said in court. We knew what Suman did. Now, how do we make it mean something?”
Where is Warren Glowatski now?
Global News BC
Warren Glowatski.
While in prison, Glowatski took rehabilitation courses and began speaking as a mentor to youth at risk of getting involved in crime. He also learned he was indigenous and invited an elder to do a traditional smudge ceremony at the beginning of his parole hearing.
“Today I think we see a young man who has taken responsibility for his actions and is trying to amend the wrong that he did,” Suman told reporters at the time.
After the trial, Glowatski said he planned on studying welding.
Per CBC, three years later at his second parole hearing, he shared that he had been living in an apartment part-time while on day parole and had begun going to school.
In 2010, Glowatski was granted full parole, subject to conditions including abstaining from the use of intoxicants, avoiding association with known criminals and regularly reporting to a parole officer, according to the outlet.
Read the original article on People
