What Happened To Reena Virk’s Parents, Manjit & Suman, After Under The Bridge

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Under the Bridge.

Summary

• Parents of murder victim Reena Virk forgave her killer through restorative justice, showing kindness and empathy.
• Manjit and Suman Virk dedicated themselves to anti-bullying efforts after Reena’s tragic death, receiving awards for their work.
• Suman Virk tragically passed away in 2018 from choking, leaving behind a legacy of family dedication and anti-bullying advocacy.

Hulu’s Under the Bridge shows how Reena Virk’s death impacts her parents, Manjit and Suman Virk, raising questions about what happened to them after the events shown in the series. The dramatization tells the true story of the murder of Reena Virk, but the series also looks at how the murder impacted those around her and how teenagers could commit such a heinous crime. The people most impacted by the crime, besides Reena, are her parents, Manjit and Suman.

Prior to the tragic event, Reena’s parents had a contentious relationship with her parents. She found their rules and religion restrictive. Despite this, the parents continued trying to express concern and care for their daughter in the best way they knew how. These two Under the Bridge characters are wrecked after the loss of their daughter, especially since the police fail to treat them well. However, like the characters based on real people, the individuals who inspired them continued to live on after the events of the series.

Suman & Manjit Virk Later Forgave Warren Glowatski For Killing Reena

The Virks And Glowatski Went Through A Restorative Justice Program

Despite going through one of the worst tragedies possible, losing a child, Manjit and Suman Virk went through a restorative justice program with Warren Glowatski that allowed them to find forgiveness for their daughter’s murderer. The afterword for Rebecca Godfrey’s Under the Bridgeadded in the 2019 reprint, details this experience for the three individuals. The program took place in a little chapel with the guidance of two facilitators. Manjit Virk expressed that he was fully on board with seeing Warren and participating in the program because he believed that denying him would harden the heart of the young man.

This entire process showed the couple’s kindness and willingness to forgive, even if there would never be happiness or closure after Reena’s death.

In the session, the Virks told Warren about Reena, their love for their daughter, and their travels together. This gave Warren insight into the girl whom he didn’t know prior to the attack, a fact that Hulu’s Under the Bridge makes clear. Then, Warren explained Reena’s last night, expressing anguish and remorse over what happened. The restorative justice program showed the Virks that Warren was a troubled child who made a massive mistake. Suman found that the sessions allowed Warren to see the Virks and recognize that he destroyed a family, releasing her from the heaviness weighing on her heart.

After going through this program together, the Virks stood by Warren in his effort to get parole in 2007, an event that could be referenced in the Under the Bridge finale. They recognized that he was on a good path in his life. Upon hearing the confirmation of his release, the Virks hugged him. That afternoon, he and the Virks met again with the restorative justice group. Suman pulled him to the side and told him that she would continue to be there for him. This entire process showed the couple’s kindness and willingness to forgive, even if there would never be happiness or closure after Reena’s death.

Reena Virk’s Parents Spoke Out On Bullying & Manjit Later Wrote A Book About Her

Suman And Manjit Dedicated Themselves To Anti-Violence And Anti-Bullying Efforts

Manjit and Suman Virk received the Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction, British Columbia’s highest award for community safety and crime prevention.

One major factor in the attack of Reena Virk was the bullying that the teen experienced, as shown in Under the Bridge. After losing Reena, the Virks dedicated their time to combating bullying and violence by speaking out and educating others. According to the National Post, the two startedspeaking to children and adults about the consequences of bullying at schools, criminology classes, and community events. After years of working for this cause and promoting restorative justice, Manjit and Suman Virk received the Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction, British Columbia’s highest award for community safety and crime prevention.

According to Times Colonistthe Virks also played an important role in providing feedback for criminal justice reform. Suman Virk specifically spoke out in favor of better mental health treatment and counseling for youth offenders. This feels like an extension of her anti-bullying work because it focuses on caring for children and teenagers who are at risk.

Additionally, Manjit wrote a book called Reena: A Father’s Story that was published in September 2008. The book serves as a collection of memories he shared with his daughter. Despite their conflicts, Manjit clearly loved his daughter very much. Manjit told CBC that he hoped his book would make it clear that his family was normal, having ups and downs just like everyone else.

Suman Virk Died In 2018 At Age 58

Suman Virk Died On June 16, 2018 From Choking

On June 16, 2018, Suman Virk died at the age of 58 after a tragic accident. According to Times Colonistthe woman was eating at a café and started choking, cutting off oxygen to her brain for several minutes. This sadly left her brain-dead. Suman is survived by her husband, Manjit, and two of her children. Despite her death, her dedication to her family, shown on Hulu’s Under the Bridgeand her fervent anti-bullying work will be remembered. Additionally, her support for restorative justice should serve as a reminder of the good that this program can do.

Source:Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey, National Post, Times Colonist, and CBC