A man is accused of killing his British wife over a weight loss issue, with his family revealing that he had kept his marriage and child a secret. Jonathan Renteria, 25, allegedly strangled lawyer June Bunyan, 37, during an argument when she was preparing to leave their residence in Los Angeles and threatened to prevent him from seeing their daughter. Renteria is accused of placing June in a chokehold, resulting in her death.
Following the alleged murder, Renteria purportedly dismembered June’s body and has been charged with her homicide. Prosecutors claim that Renteria disclosed to the police during questioning after his arrest that he and June had disputes regarding her post-pregnancy weight.
Court documents indicate that Renteria and June had been married for approximately a year, and their daughter Regina was born in July. Renteria’s father Julio, 44, stated that he learned about his son’s marriage only after the arrest. Speaking to The Scottish Sun, he expressed regret for June’s family, stating that they were unaware of her existence and that it was a shock to discover his son’s secret life.
Julio mentioned that Renteria had been involved in assisting children with disabilities and mental health issues, adding that they feel like they have lost a son as well.
June, originally from the Isle of Arran in Scotland, reportedly 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.
Authorities have initiated an investigation and conducted a search of their property in an effort to gather evidence. The probe began after Renteria was discovered with an arm injury in Ventura County, located northwest of Hollywood.
Norma Eisenman of the Los Angeles Police Department disclosed to The Scottish Sun that on September 11, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department encountered Jonathan Renteria, leading to the discovery of a potential homicide in Hollywood. LAPD officers responded and found a deceased woman in her apartment, prompting the arrest of Renteria for the alleged murder.
Despite reports of a confession, Renteria has entered a not guilty plea and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in November.
June, a graduate of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, was described by her family as having a kind heart. Her mother Jill, 61, and brother Lyle, 28, released a statement expressing their devastation over her tragic death in the US at the age of 37.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to repatriate June’s body to the UK, raising over £12,600 of the £15,000 target. More information can be found here.