A Scottish woman who had moved to the United States with aspirations of becoming a lawyer was tragically found dead in her Hollywood apartment. Her husband has been taken into custody and is the main suspect in the investigation.
The victim, a 37-year-old woman named John Bunyan, had relocated from the UK to the US with the ambition of becoming a defense attorney. Her family is now raising funds to repatriate her remains to Scotland, according to a crowdfunding page set up in her memory.
Bunyan was known by her neighbors as a friendly, humorous, and kind-hearted person. Jonathan Renteria, a 25-year-old man, has been charged with murder and mutilation of human remains by the authorities. Court documents reveal that Bunyan, legally known as June Renteria, had been married to the suspect for a year. The couple had a one-month-old child.
Renteria was discovered in a hotel room in Ventura County with a self-inflicted injury and a note admitting to the crime. Prosecutors allege that during a recorded interview, Renteria confessed to arguing with Bunyan about her post-pregnancy weight, which escalated when she threatened to leave with their child.
Court documents reveal that Renteria admitted to using a chokehold on Bunyan, leading to her death. His bail has been set at $4 million in light of these revelations. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Renteria leaving their home with the baby and later returning with garbage bags, which prosecutors suspect contained dismembered remains.
A neighbor revealed that Bunyan had confided in her about being in an abusive relationship and had expressed fear for her life. Bunyan, who ran a paralegal business, was dedicated to helping lawyers defend non-citizen clients in criminal and immigration cases.
Bunyan’s family is raising funds to repatriate her body to the UK for burial. Renteria, who has pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in November. This case highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence, particularly against women. Resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline are available for those in need of assistance.