In a tragic turn of events, a Scottish woman who relocated to the United States with dreams of becoming a lawyer was found dead in her Hollywood apartment. The woman’s husband has been arrested and is the primary suspect in the case.
The victim, a 37-year-old woman named John Bunyan, had moved from the UK to the US with the goal of becoming a defense attorney. Her family is now working to raise funds to return her remains to Scotland, as per a crowdfunding page established in her memory.
Bunyan was described by her neighbors as a friendly, humorous, and kind individual. The authorities have charged Jonathan Renteria, a 25-year-old man, with murder and mutilation of human remains. Court records indicate that Bunyan, who was legally known as June Renteria, had been married to the suspect for a year. The couple had a one-month-old baby.
Renteria was found in a hotel room in Ventura County with a self-inflicted wound and a note confessing to the crime. Prosecutors claim that during a recorded interview, Renteria confessed to having a dispute with Bunyan about her post-pregnancy weight, which escalated when she threatened to leave with their child.
According to court documents, Renteria confessed to using a chokehold on Bunyan, resulting in her death. His bail has been set at $4 million following these revelations. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Renteria leaving their home with the baby and later returning with garbage bags, which prosecutors believe contained dismembered remains.
A neighbor shared that Bunyan had confided in her about being in an abusive relationship and had expressed fear for her life. Bunyan, who operated a paralegal business, was committed to assisting lawyers in defending non-citizen clients in criminal and immigration cases.
Bunyan’s family is raising funds to return her body to the UK for burial. Renteria, who has pleaded not guilty, is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in November. This case underscores 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.