A Georgia jury has found Chloe Driver, 24, guilty of murdering her 13-month-old daughter, Hannah, in 2020. The case revealed chilling details about the polygamist cult Driver belonged to, where bizarre beliefs and practices overpowered medical care and parental instincts. Despite her plea of insanity, the jury determined Driver was criminally responsible for her actions.
Driver, who was 20 at the time of the killing, stabbed her infant daughter to death, influenced by cult indoctrination that led her to believe breastfeeding would “pour evil” into her child. Hannah had never been to a doctor and did not have a birth certificate, reported KFOX.
Driver’s lawyers argued she was trapped in a cycle of brainwashing and abuse, unable to escape the oppressive grip of the cult led by her husband, Benyamin Ben Michael, known as “Z.” Driver met Benyamin at 17 when he was 38. In court, it was revealed that Benyamin had two other wives and subjected the family to extreme practices such as urine therapy and sensory deprivation.
Driver admitted to believing these practices, including that her breast milk could harm her child. The prosecution countered Driver’s insanity defense, arguing that jealousy motivated her actions. A disturbing letter, used as evidence, featured Driver’s handwriting: “He didn’t do it, I did it. 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.”
Driver was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, and cannabis use disorder after her arrest. Her defense highlighted her troubled background, marked by a difficult childhood, cold parents, and previous suicide attempts. Dr. Garrett, an expert witness, described Driver’s isolation in the cult: “She wasn’t allowed to speak to others unless it was for recruitment. She couldn’t go to stores, use money, or have a phone without supervision.”
On the night of the murder, another wife, Jessica, called 911, reporting a child with its “throat cut.” When police arrived, they found Hannah dead and Driver with a self-inflicted stab wound to her neck. The driver is now in custody and will be sentenced on December 12. The case has brought renewed attention to the dangers of cult indoctrination and the devastating consequences of unchecked abuse and control.