Warren Paul Glowatski was born on April 26, 1981, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and had a somewhat nomadic childhood, moving across provinces including Saskatchewan and British Columbia. He spent time in Estevan, Regina, and later in Castlegar, B.C. He had no criminal record prior to the murder of Reena Virk and was described as a typical 16-year-old boy at the time.

There is little public detail about his early childhood, but like many teenagers, he was navigating a life of instability, possibly marked by troubled environments. While not viewed as the ringleader in Reena’s murder, he was a willing and active participant in the violence that led to her death.

On the night of November 14, 1997, Warren Glowatski was part of a group of teenagers who swarmed and beat 14-year-old Reena Virk near Craigflower Bridge in Saanich, British Columbia. After the initial beating by the group known as the Shoreline Six, Reena attempted to walk away from the scene.

Warren Glowatski, along with Kelly Marie Ellard, followed her. According to court testimony, they attacked her a second time, smashing her head against a tree. While Reena was unconscious, they dragged her into the Gorge Waterway, where she drowned. Glowatski was charged with second-degree murder and was convicted in June 1999, receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after seven years due to his age at the time of the offense.

Despite the brutal nature of the crime, Glowatski showed genuine remorse throughout his incarceration. He took part in restorative justice programs, and even met with Reena’s parents as part of a healing circle. His Indigenous Métis heritage was embraced during his rehabilitation, and cultural practices were incorporated into his parole process.

In 2006, Glowatski was granted temporary absences from prison. He was later granted day parole in 2007 and full parole in June 2010. His case has been cited in Canada as an example of successful restorative justice and rehabilitation.