A man is accused of killing his British wife because she did not lose weight, as per his family, who revealed that he had kept his marriage and child a secret.
Jonathan Renteria, 25, allegedly strangled lawyer June Bunyan, 37, after an argument in which she began packing to leave their residence in Los Angeles, threatening to prevent him from seeing their daughter again. Renteria is accused of fatally choking June.
He then reportedly dismembered June’s body and has been charged with her murder. Prosecutors stated that Renteria told the police during an interview after his arrest that he and June had argued about her weight post-pregnancy.
Court documents revealed that Renteria and June had been married for approximately a year, with their daughter Regina born in July. Surprisingly, Renteria’s father Julio, 44, mentioned that he only learned about his son’s marriage after the arrest.
When inquired about June, he informed The Scottish Sun: “We are unaware of her identity. We have never met her. We sympathize with her family.
“We were not even aware that he had a girlfriend. It has been a shock for us. He was always reserved. It is a challenging period. It is difficult for everyone.”
He added: “He was actively assisting children with disabilities and mental health issues. We are devastated. We feel like we have lost a son as well.”
June, hailing from the Isle of Arran in Scotland, apparently met Renteria online after relocating to the US to pursue a legal career. She was last seen alive on September 4, according to court records.
Investigators have initiated a search of their property to gather evidence. The probe commenced after Renteria was allegedly discovered with a forearm injury in Ventura County, situated northwest of Hollywood.
Norma Eisenman from the Los Angeles Police Department informed The Scottish Sun: “On September 11, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officers encountered Jonathan Renteria. They received information regarding a potential murder in Hollywood.
“The Los Angeles Police Department was notified. LAPD Hollywood Area officers responded to the 5300 block of Franklin Avenue for a welfare check.
“They found an adult female murdered in her apartment. LAPD West Bureau Homicide detectives took charge of the investigation. Jonathan Renteria was arrested and charged with the murder.”
Renteria has reportedly pleaded not guilty despite rumors of a confession. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in November.
June graduated from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen in 2022 and was known for her compassionate nature. Her mother Jill, 61, and brother Lyle, 28, previously expressed: “With immense sorrow, we announce that our beloved daughter, sister, niece, cousin, and friend, June Bunyan, was tragically taken from us due to a violent incident in the US. Our lives are forever altered. She was only 37.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to repatriate June to the UK. The initiative has raised over £12,600 of the £15,000 target. More information can be found here.
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