A Georgia judge’s voice trembled with emotion as she sentenced a 24-year-old mother to life in prison for the brutal murder of her 13-month-old daughter, Hannah Driver. Chloe Driver, a member of a polygamist cult, was convicted of stabbing her toddler to death in December 2020. The chilling case, which has shocked the community, culminated in a sentencing that left the courtroom visibly affected.
Driver was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, cruelty to children in the first degree, and aggravated assault by Cherokee County jurors last month. The jury also determined that she was legally mentally ill during her trial. Despite her defense arguing that her mental health struggles led to the crime, the jury rejected her insanity plea, holding her fully responsible for the murder.
In one of her final trials before retiring, Cherokee County Superior Court Chief Judge Ellen McElyea’s voice shook with emotion as she addressed the court. She described the crime as a “heinous offense,” stating that the evidence was so graphic and traumatic that it prompted her to research support for the jurors who had to consider it. “A parent killing a child is something that just offends us on the deepest level,” McElyea said, her voice cracking. “It is a wrong that just is unfathomable. It just cannot be understood.”
The details of the case have left many reeling, with prosecutors outlining the disturbing conditions in which the crime occurred. Driver, who was just 20 years old when she killed her daughter, was deeply influenced by her husband, Benyamin Ben-Michaeil, and his extreme polygamist beliefs. Ben-Michaeil, who had created contracts for each of his young wives, indoctrinated Driver into a world where modern medicine was rejected. Baby Hannah, tragically, had never been to a doctor, nor did she have a birth certificate.
As part of the polygamist group’s unorthodox and harmful practices, Driver believed she was “pouring evil” into her baby while breastfeeding. The court also heard disturbing testimony about the group’s alternative healing practices, which included drinking urine and engaging in sensory deprivation. Driver’s mental health struggles, including a history of depression and self-harm, were exacerbated by her time in the cult, according to expert witnesses.
Driver’s defense argued that her mental illness, coupled with her extreme beliefs, led her to commit the unimaginable act. She was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, and cannabis use disorder. Her defense team painted a picture of a woman who had endured a traumatic childhood and been coerced into an abusive marriage. However, the prosecution contended that Driver’s actions were driven by a desire to monopolise her husband’s attention, as she sought to be with him alone, free from the presence of his two other wives.
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The details surrounding the murder itself were deeply distressing. On the day of the crime, Driver locked herself and her daughter in an upstairs bedroom, where she stabbed Hannah multiple times in the neck. Afterward, she turned the knife on herself in a desperate act of self-harm. When authorities arrived, they found both mother and child lying on a mattress, covered in blood. Despite efforts to save them, Hannah was pronounced dead from her injuries.
In a gut-wrenching letter revealed in court, Driver admitted her role in the crime, stating, “I was going insane and no longer wanted to be with his friends but kept coming back for him. I only wanted my baby and husband but he refused.” She also acknowledged that her actions were driven by her unstable mental state and her obsession with being with her husband.
During the trial, harrowing 911 calls were played for the jury, with one call from Jessica, the second wife of the polygamist group, who reported that the baby appeared dead and that the mother was responsible. Another call revealed frantic screams and sobs as the officers were informed that a 13-month-old child had been murdered.
The jury ultimately determined that while Driver’s mental health issues were severe, they were not sufficient to justify her actions. She will serve life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, particularly in the local community, with many questioning the extent to which polygamist beliefs can influence individuals’ actions. Prosecutors argued that while Driver may have been mentally ill, her desire to eliminate the “competition” for her husband’s affection played a significant role in the murder.
As Judge McElyea delivered the sentence, she expressed her sorrow for the loss of such an innocent life, and the courtroom remained somber as the reality of the case set in.
