A SCOTS mum murdered in Hollywood had launched a legal bid to get away from her ‘killer’ husband after he ‘wished her dead’.
June Bunyan, originally from Arran, tried to take a restraining order out on violent Jonathan Renteria but 18 months later he killed the 37-year-old in her Los Angeles apartment before dismembering her body.
Jonathan Renteria has been charged with his wife’s murder
June Bunyan was killed and then dismembered in her Los Angeles flat
She had previously tried to get a restraining order against her husband
She was found by cops in the flat
In a chilling email sent to his dad, he said he choked her until his “ arms gave out”.
Terrified law graduate June told cops her husband ‘wished she was dead’ 18 months before her brutal slaying.
She fled to police in an attempt to escape her then-boyfriend Renteria’s violence by seeking legal protection.
June tried to get a restraining order against him in December 2023 claiming acts of domestic violence.
But she was found butchered in her Los Angeles apartment two weeks ago after her hubby allegedly choked her to death and dismembered her.
June’s statement to police from the time states: “Jonathan attended my property to collect items.
He said he intended to ruin my life… told me he wished I was dead and that I deserved to suffer.
June Bunyan
“When talking outside, he became aggressive and verbally abusive. He made derogatory comments about my appearance.
“He made false allegations and said he intended to ruin my life… told me he wished I was dead and that I deserved to suffer.”
But after the request was filed, Renteria claimed June contacted him and asked to meet in person.
The protection bid ended up being dropped when she didn’t show up to court hearing on January 22 last year.
Tonight it also emerged that her deranged hubby had left a scrawled note confessing to the murder of his wife before trying to take his own life.
Drugged-up Renteria was found by US cops in a £60-a-night motel after fleeing June’s Hollywood home where she lay dead for a week with her limbs in black bin bags.
Officers found Renteria barely conscious in the motel bath and a note which read: “My wife, June Renteria is deceased in her apartment. I kill her. I am truly sorry.”
June’s address was written on the back which led to the grim discovery by LAPD officers who were met with a foul smell when they opened a window.
Police reports say the 37-year-old mum had been dead for a week when she was found on September 11.
Reports in the States say Renteria also confessed to the killing in an email to his dad Julio, 44, and went on a drug-fuelled bender to cope with his savage crime.
It read: “The only thing I could do in the moment was choke her.
“And I did. I held it for as long as I could until my arms gave out.
“I was horrified at myself.
“Right after this I took a lot of drugs to get through it.”
June graduated from Robert Gordon University
A view outside June’s Hollywood apartment where she was found dead
Inside June’s LA apartment after her death
A view of the complex’s pool in LA
Renteria is alleged to have strangled June to death with a chokehold in a Hollywood apartment before cutting up her body.
He was captured on CCTV leaving the front gate with their one-month-old newborn on September 5.
Two hours later he was recorded returning with bin bags and then drove 40 miles to a motel in Newbury Park in the Thousand Oaks area of California.
He’s now in police custody with a $4million bail, charged with June’s murder and mutilation of human remains.
Prosecution reports in the US say Renteria had an argument with June about her “failure to lose weight following her pregnancy,” and that she began packing and told him she would never let him see his daughter again. It goes on to say that he “admits to putting the victim in a rear-naked chokehold…” and killing her.
‘MORE INTERESTED IN MONEY & GAMING’
By DAVID THOMPSON and OLIVER NORTON
A HUSBAND accused of murdering his Scots lawyer wife was more interested in money and computer games than caring for his young family, shocked friends revealed.
Jonathan Renteria, 25, has been charged over the alleged murder and mutilation of much-loved June Bunyan, 37, at her home in Los Angeles, California.
The couple were married only last year and had a baby girl just weeks ago – all of which he kept a secret from his own family.
June’s death has shocked loved ones in the US who revealed the mum was too terrified to tell Renteria she had fallen pregnant over fears he would flip.
They said he would fly into a violent rage, bang on doors and demand money from her, appearing more concerned with feeding his computer game addiction.
June’s friend and neighbour, Arielle Miller, 43, said socially awkward Renteria even tried it on with her despite his missus living just doors away.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun on Sunday, she said: “Jonathan is an individual that I found to be extremely unsettling.
“As a whole, he did struggle with social connections with people and also impulsivity. I had a few interactions with him that made me uncomfortable.
“He came and knocked on my apartment door once and asked me about my relationship situation, specifically saying that when I was done dating old men to come upstairs. That made me really uncomfortable.
“I know from my interactions with June he would show up unannounced, banging on her door, wanting money, video games.
“A source of contention in their relationship was that he would stay up very late, like up until 6-7am gaming all night.
“There were challenges in their relationship.”
The devastating news of the death was broken by cops in Scotland to mum Jill and brother Lyle along with a best pal who has launched a fundraiser in her name.
They’d proudly watched June graduate from Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University in 2022 with a law degree before she moved to the US to pursue her dream of being a defence lawyer.
After arriving in America, she set up Renteria Paralegal Services and worked in immigration law.
She’d met Renteria online before they married but he quickly became violent and abusive and claimed their baby wasn’t his, neighbours in LA said.
We previously revealed how the alleged killer kept his wife and baby daughter a secret from his family.
Julio told The Scottish Sun he only found out his son was married when he was arrested for June’s murder.
He said: “We don’t know where they met. We don’t know anything. We don’t know anything about her.
‘VIBRANT PERSONALITY’
JUNE grew up on the Isle of Arran and graduated with a law degree from Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University in 2022.
But she moved to the US to pursue her dream of being a defence lawyer.
After arriving in America, she set up Renteria Paralegal Services and worked in the field of immigration law.
Her devastated friends and family are now raising cash to bring her home to Scotland.
A Gofundme page set up for her has already raised £13,000.
June’s best pal Vicky Tulika set up the fundraiser for her mum Jill and brother Lyle.
She said: “June was known for her vibrant personality, infectious laugh, and deeply compassionate heart.
“Exceptionally accomplished, she held multiple degrees, but her proudest achievement was earning her law degree.
“Driven by courage and determination, June moved to America to sit the bar exam and pursue her dream of becoming a defence attorney. She worked tirelessly to build herself a better life.
“June’s life was cut short so far from home, and we are now faced with the heartbreaking task of bringing her back to the UK. She can then be laid to rest with the dignity and love she deserves, surrounded by family and friends.”
The fundraiser can be found here.
“When the cops came they didn’t give us much information.”
A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told The Scottish Sun: “On September 11, 2025, officers from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department came in contact with Jonathan Renteria in Ventura County.
“From that contact, officers received information of a possible homicide that occurred in Hollywood.
“The Los Angeles Police Department was contacted and officers from LAPD Hollywood Area responded to Franklin Avenue for the purposes of conducting a welfare check. Officers located a female adult that had been murdered in her apartment.
“Detectives from LAPD West Bureau Homicide assumed investigative responsibility for the incident. Jonathan Renteria was arrested and booked for the murder.
“Murder charges have been filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
June’s proudest achievement was earning her law degree
“The incident appears to be domestic violence related and there are no suspects outstanding.”
A Gofundme page set up for her has already raised £13,000.
June’s best pal Vicky Tulika set up the fundraiser for her mum Jill and brother Lyle.
June’s best pal Vicky Tulika said: “June was known for her vibrant personality, infectious laugh, and deeply compassionate heart.
Exceptionally accomplished, she held multiple degrees, but her proudest achievement was earning her law degree.
“Driven by courage and determination, June moved to America to sit the bar exam and pursue her dream of becoming a defence attorney. She worked tirelessly to build herself a better life.
“June’s life was cut short so far from home, and we are now faced with the heartbreaking task of bringing her back to the UK. She can then be laid to rest with the dignity and love she deserves, surrounded by family and friends.”
How you can get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
Always keep your phone nearby.
Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
If you are in danger, call 999.
Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
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