Hulu's new true-crime drama "Under the Bridge" is inspired by Rebecca Godfrey's novel of the same name, which is based on the 1997 murder of Canadian teen Rena Vick.
Godfrey, who died in 2022, was considered an executive producer on the show and was interested not only in who killed Rena Vick, but also in the psychology of her attackers, who were also teenagers. "I think they're openly using apathy as a kind of armor," Godfrey told EL in 2019. "But in fact, they're very concerned about the death of Renna Wake because of something they did or didn't do. Shocked and troubled by the fact.” "
The author of "Under the Bridge" (played by Riley Keough in the show) grew up in the same town where Vic was killed. While reporting for her 2005 book, Godfrey returned to British Columbia and spoke with some of the people involved in violent crime.
What happened to Rena Vick?
As Godfrey details in Vice, Vic and her attacker were part of a large group of teenagers who gathered behind a local school one night in November.
A small group of people began attacking Virk, with one of the girls (who Godfrey called "Josephine" due to a court-ordered ban on the publication of her real name) reportedly attacking the 14-year-old victim for spreading rumors about her. took revenge.
Josephine and five other girls were convicted of attacking Vick, the CBC reported. But after they defeated Vic and walked away, the two teenagers continued the attack. Prosecutor Don Morrison said they "followed Reena across the bridge, beat her again, and then dragged her body into a ravine where she was forcibly drowned," Godfrey wrote.
Two men convicted of murder
The last two teens, Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski, were both convicted of second-degree murder. Glowacki was sentenced to life in prison in 1999, but it took several trials to convict Ellard, who was eventually sentenced to life in prison.
According to the Vancouver Sun , Ellard told a hearing in 2017 that she wanted to take Vick to the water and "throw water in her face" and "wake her up," which was a growing concern for Glo. Watsky cast doubt on her assertion that she deliberately drowned the young girl. Still, she apologized to the Vick family.
"I don't think sorry is good enough," she said. "I mean, their lives are completely ruined. I feel so guilty and ashamed and I wish I could have done something to make things better."
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