Mum's heartbreak over LA killing and granddaughter's location

The mother of a Scottish law graduate killed in Los Angeles says the lack of information from US authorities since her daughter's death has been heartbreaking.

June Bunyan's dismembered body was found in her apartment in September last year.

Her husband Jonathan Renteria has been charged with murder, mutilation and child cruelty. He has pleaded not guilty.

Jill Bunyan, June's mum, says she is in legal limbo and is still not certain who is caring for her baby granddaughter.

Jill Bunyan was previously told the court process against Renteria could take two years.

The latest of many court hearings was held on 4 September – the first anniversary of June's disappearance.

But Jill and her family, from Arran, said they received no official information about that hearing until almost two weeks later. The case has been continued until October.

"My health has had an absolute battering, and it's not just with losing June. It's the lack of respect, the lack of communication," she said.

"It almost feels like nobody cares. Nobody actually cares, and that is heartbreaking, and that is as bad as losing June because it just plays mind games with you. It is horrendous."

Less than two months before she was killed June had given birth to a baby girl called Regina.

Jill thinks she might be in the custody of Jonathan Renteria's parents but does not know for sure.

BBC Scotland News has attempted to contact Renteria's parents but has been unable to verify where baby Regina is.

If she is with Renteria's parents, Jill has this message for them: "That is my daughter's daughter who I'd seen everyday [over the internet]…pick up the phone, send a picture, just let me know she's all right."

Jill is currently crowdfunding to pay for a lawyer to try to track down Regina.

June's family and friends have just marked a year since she was killed.

"Grief controls you, you don't have any control over grief. It points you in a direction and you just have to go with it, " said Jill.

"That's never going to change," she said. "I'll be heartbroken until I go.

Jill says she is grateful for the support she receives from her local MP Irene Campbell, as well as the charity Victim Support Scotland.

But she is critical of the level of support she has received from the UK government Foreign Office and hopes to meet the foreign secretary to highlight the challenges of losing a loved one abroad.

"It doesn't have to be this difficult," she said.

"It's difficult enough without having to fight everybody to get answers to simple questions, but I can't get answers."

The day after Jill recorded an interview with BBC Scotland News, she received an apology from the prosecution service in Los Angeles for the lack of communication about the court case against Renteria.

BBC Scotland News has not received a response from the District Attorney's office to our request for comment.

The UK Foreign Office said it was supporting the family of a British woman who has died in the US and is in contact with the local authorities.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, information and support can be found at the BBC's Action Line .

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