New Mom Worker Said 'Hi' to Her Killer at 7-Eleven Before Dying for 'Less Than $40'

An 18-year-old new mother working alone on the graveyard shift at a 7-Eleven was stabbed to death after reportedly greeting the man who would kill her, a crime Oklahoma prosecutors say was carried out for 'less than $40 (£29.25)'.

The killing of Jaedynn Anthony has prompted prosecutors to seek the death penalty, citing what they describe as an especially heinous and cruel attack.

Deadly Robbery at Oklahoma City 7-Eleven

According to Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office, Anthony was working overnight at a 7-Eleven in Oklahoma City in October 2024 when a man entered the store shortly before 2:45 a.m.. The suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Anthony Gonzalez, allegedly exchanged brief words with the teen before demanding she open the cash register.

Prosecutors say that once the till was opened, Gonzalez stabbed Anthony and fled the store on foot. The Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office said he left with 'less than $40 (£29.25)' taken from the register.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Anthony unresponsive. She was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Surveillance Footage Captured Final Interaction

Investigators say surveillance video from inside the convenience store shows Gonzalez entering and greeting Anthony moments before the attack. The exchange has become a focal point in the case.

'She said hi to him, and he said hi to her when he came in the door,' Anthony's cousin Somer Goodgion told local CBS affiliate KWTV. 'The audacity the man had to say hi to her knowing what you are about to do to this young baby.'

Police said customers entered the store shortly after the stabbing and found Anthony in medical distress.

Victim Was a New Mother Working Alone

Anthony was an 18-year-old mother to a one-year-old son named Brayden. Family members described her as a 'bright light' who had recently started working overnight shifts to support her child.

Relatives said she was not allowed to have a mobile phone while working and had purchased pepper spray for protection. 'What do you give these people to protect themselves?' Goodgion said.

A GoFundMe launched after her death highlighted the financial and emotional toll on her family, particularly her young son.

Suspect Arrested After Days on the Run

Gonzalez was arrested several days later following a search involving Oklahoma City Police and the US Marshals Task Force. He is charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

At a preliminary hearing, a judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Gonzalez remains in custody on a $10 million (£7.3 million) bond.

Why Prosecutors Are Seeking the Death Penalty

The Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office said it is pursuing the death penalty due to aggravating factors in the case, describing the killing as 'especially heinous' and 'cruel'.

'Our office treats the decision to seek the death penalty with the utmost seriousness,' said District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna. 'It is never made lightly and never made in haste. This determination is based on a careful review of the facts, the law, and extensive discussion with experienced prosecutors.'

Court Proceedings Continue

Gonzalez has been formally bound over to stand trial. His next court date is scheduled for 1 April, when further proceedings in the case are expected to take place as prosecutors continue to build their argument in one of Oklahoma City's most closely watched murder cases.