A Scottish woman who relocated to California to marry a man she met on Twitter has reportedly been dismembered by him shortly after giving birth to their first child.
The remains of 37-year-old June Bunyan were discovered in the apartment of her husband, Jonathan Renteria, 25, on September 11, following Renteria’s attempted suicide at a hotel in Ventura County.
Authorities indicated that her dismembered body was found during a welfare check about a week after the murder.
“I saw her being carried out in several bags,” neighbor Ariel Miller recounted to KTLA.
“The first bag… I thought that couldn’t be all of her. Then another bag came. I realized she wasn’t even in the dress anymore.”
Renteria, who survived the suicide attempt, is now facing charges of murder and mutilation, with the Los Angeles Police Department noting that Bunyan died from a severe neck injury.
Having moved to the US around 18 months ago, Bunyan aspired to be a lawyer and help vulnerable communities. She married Renteria shortly after her arrival and had recently welcomed a baby girl, who was found to be unharmed.
This incident has raised serious concerns, with allegations of abuse against Renteria surfacing; acquaintances claimed he made hurtful comments about Bunyan’s weight during her pregnancy.
Miller, the neighbor, mentioned that Bunyan had confided in a friend about feeling unable to rely on her husband anymore.
“She was planning to leave him. That’s when it happened,” Miller asserted.
“June was cherished by so many. She didn’t deserve such disrespect. She deserves dignity in death,” Miller added.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established by Bunyan’s family to help return her remains to her native Scotland.
Her husband is currently held on a $4 million bail, with a court appearance set for November 18, according to KTLA.
