THE husband accused of murdering a Scots lawyer in her Los Angeles home kept their marriage and new baby hidden from his own family, a shocked neighbour has revealed.
June Bunyan, 37, suffered fatal neck injuries at her property in California after she moved to the US to pursue her dream of becoming a defence attorney.
June Bunyan killed in her LA home earlier this month
June posing with her mum after graduating from Robert Gordon University
Neighbour Arielle Miller said June’s partner Jonathan Renteria lost the plot after it emerged she was pregnantCredit: David Thompson
June was tragically found dead at her apartment in Los AngelesCredit: David Thompson
The mum, originally from Arran, got married to Jonthan Renteria last year and gave birth to her baby just weeks ago.
Her partner, Renteria, 25, is now facing charges of murder and mutilation of human remains.
He remains in custody with bail set at around £3million.
Horrified friends and neighbours said the couple had been in an abusive and volatile relationship which Renteria had tried to keep a secret.
June’s friend and neighbour Arielle Miller, 43, said they had fallen out after it emerged June was pregnant.
Arielle said: “She got pregnant after they married in June last year. She was afraid to tell him.
“Then he didn’t go see her for weeks after he found out she was pregnant because he told her the baby wasn’t his.
“He had refused to see her. He was denying it. She knew it was his because she didn’t cheat on him.
“He told her, ‘You’re old and you don’t have eggs’.”
The pal added: “It was awful to see her be in so much pain about this person who she just married and loved, and she’d go back and forth about.”
Arielle said she didn’t know of physical violence within the couple’s relationship, but said there was “emotional, financial, sexual abuse”.
We told how June grew up on the Isle of Arran and graduated with a law degree from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.
She had recently moved to the US to pursue a dream of defending those accused of crimes and applied for citizenship.
June set up Renteria Paralegal Services and worked in the field of immigration law.
Her friend Arielle said June and Renteria had met over social media and that she moved to LA to be with him.
She said the couple married in June last year and that their daughter Regina was born in July this year.
It’s understood the child is now being looked after by Jonathan’s parents – who didn’t know of their relationship.
Arielle said: “June knew that his family didn’t know about her. They didn’t know he had married her, that he had a girlfriend.
“This situation is really screwed up. I was like,’You deserve to be loved by someone who doesn’t keep you a secret.’
“That speaks volumes about him – the fact that they didn’t know the baby had been born.”
Arielle said the mum had planned to gain citizenship and then bring her kids over to the US.
She paid tribute to the popular mum, adding: “My friend June was brutally murdered.
“It’s really important that we continue to remember June and the light that she was in this world.
“She was a friend to everyone in our complex, willing to help, she was always smiling.
“I want her story to be told so other people know that there is help, there are resources out there, you’re not alone, you matter and you are enough, and you are worthy of help, and you are worthy of a healthy, safe, beautiful love.
“I hope that you know, June, that your death was not in vain, we will not forget you, and we are going to continue to keep your memory alive.”
UnknownJune’s apartment in LA[/caption]
Credit: David ThompsonThe scene of the brutal murder[/caption]
UnknownThe mum, originally from Arran, got married to Jonthan Renteria last year[/caption]
According to reports, Renteria was found in a hotel room bleeding, with a wound to his forearm, and a note admitting to killing his wife.
Prosecutors say that in a recorded interview, Renteria said he had an argument with the victim about her “failure to lose weight following her pregnancy,”
They said she began packing and told him she would never let him see his daughter again.
Papers go on to say that he “admits to putting the victim in a rear-naked chokehold…” and killing her.
According to the reported filing, the victim was last seen alive on September 4.
Renteria was seen the following day, leaving with the baby in the middle of the night, and then hours later holding garbage bags.
Prosecutors say he dropped off the child at his parents’ home and accuse him of dismembering his wife’s body.
It’s understood Renteria worked as a paraprofessional at the Los Angeles Unified School District.
He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing in November. It’s understood Renteria has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Meanwhile, June’s family and friends in the UK have launched a crowdfunder to repatriate her body.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is supporting her family and said it is in contact with local authorities in the US.
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