A Scottish mother says she is living through a nightmare as she waits for answers about her daughter’s violent death in Los Angeles. The court process could take up to two years, leaving her unable to grieve or move forward.
A New Life and Big Dreams
June Bunyan grew up on the Isle of Arran in Scotland and loved adventure. In 2023, she moved to California to chase her dream of becoming a defence attorney.
She had recently completed her law degree and planned to pass the California bar exam. To support herself, June set up a small paralegal service in Los Angeles.
While in the US, she met Jonathan Renteria, a local resident, through a shared interest in martial arts. The two later married and welcomed a baby daughter, Regina, in July 2025.
A Mother’s Last Conversations
Back in Scotland, June stayed in close contact with her mother, Jill Bunyan. They spoke often, and Jill says her daughter sounded happy and excited about becoming a mother.
“She was over the moon,” Jill said. “She loved her baby.”
Less than two months after Regina’s birth, police found June’s dismembered body inside her Los Angeles apartment. She was 37 years old.
Husband Charged With Murder
Authorities charged June’s husband, Jonathan Renteria, with her murder. He has pleaded not guilty.
His lawyer has claimed that he may have been suffering from psychosis at the time of the killing. The case is now moving slowly through the US legal system.
Jill fears the trial could take two years to conclude.
‘We Are in Hell,’ Says Grieving Mother
Sitting in her living room on Arran, Jill describes her daughter as kind, intelligent, and full of life.
“It’s two years of waiting,” she said. “You cannot grieve. You cannot move on. We are in hell.”
Jill says she relies on medication to cope with the pain and stress.
No Contact With Granddaughter
Jill has not seen or spoken to her granddaughter since June’s death. She also says that all of her daughter’s belongings have disappeared.
“I lost my daughter,” she said. “I cannot see my granddaughter, and I do not have a single thing that belonged to June.”
Jill believes Regina is currently living with Renteria’s parents, although this has not been confirmed.
She says she would welcome an independent review of custody and hopes Regina can eventually come to Scotland.
Costly Legal Battle Ahead
Jill now faces expensive legal action in the United States. She plans to seek custody of Regina and take legal steps to recover her daughter’s missing possessions.
The family has launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover legal costs.
Court records also show that June once filed a restraining order against Renteria, citing domestic violence. She later withdrew the claim.
