July 15, 2025: The woman convicted in the notorious 1997 murder of Canadian teen Reena Virk has had her day parole revoked after repeated drug violations and what authorities call a “high risk” to public safety. Kerry Sim, formerly known as Kelly Ellard, was just 15 when she took part in the brutal killing of 14-year-old Reena Virk in British Columbia — a crime that shocked the nation and continues to haunt Canada’s collective memory. Now 42, Sim is once again back in custody after the Parole Board of Canada ruled that her actions pose an “undue risk to society.”
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According to parole documents, Sim’s release was suspended in January following a positive methamphetamine test, despite her claims that the results were due to prescribed medication. In April, she tested positive again — this time for taking another inmate’s medication, which she admitted.
The board said Sim’s behavior since being granted parole in 2018 has been troubling. She’s repeatedly been called back to prison for drug use, emotional outbursts, and even domestic violence. In 2021, she was arrested again after a deterioration in conduct. When staff at a community facility in the Lower Mainland tried to intervene earlier this year, she reportedly refused to leave her room, screamed, kicked, and made vague suicidal threats.
“You present with an anti-social or delinquent value system,” the parole board wrote. “You continue to engage in the very behaviors that led to your suspension.”
Sim is currently serving a life sentence for second-degree murder. She was released on day parole seven years ago but has had ongoing issues with compliance. Her case stands in contrast to her co-accused, Warren Glowatski, who also served time for Reena’s murder but expressed remorse and sought forgiveness from Virk’s family.
Sim is now a mother of two and has reportedly struggled with parenting stress, substance abuse, and legal disputes with an ex-partner. She also expressed concern about the Hulu true-crime series Under the Bridge, based on the 2005 book chronicling the case. While she claimed the show was disrespectful to the victim’s family, the parole board noted that her empathy appeared limited and inconsistent.
Despite demonstrating some “positive behavior” while working as a prison cleaner, the board concluded that Sim remains unstable and unaccountable. “You disregarded minimum supervision expectations and became hostile when confronted,” they wrote.
Ultimately, the board decided that Sim’s release would pose too much danger to the public. “You will, by reoffending before the expiration of your sentence, present an undue risk to society.”