A heartbreaking story unfolded in Cherokee County, Georgia, as 24-year-old Chloe Driver was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after being found guilty of killing her 13-month-old daughter, Hannah Nicole Driver. The crime, which shook the small community of Canton, happened four years ago, leaving a trail of grief and unanswered questions.
Chloe was convicted in November for the tragic death of her baby girl, who was described by her father, Benyamin Ben-Michaeil, as “happy and engaging.” During the trial, Chloe pleaded insanity, but the jury didn’t buy it. Instead, they found her guilty but mentally ill of malice murder, felony murder, cruelty to children, and aggravated assault.
The sentencing was an emotional day in court. Hannah’s father, Benyamin, didn’t hold back, calling Chloe manipulative and insisting she wasn’t a victim. Meanwhile, Chloe’s attorney pleaded for mercy, emphasizing her deep remorse. Chloe herself cried quietly through most of the hearing and later spoke to the court, saying she grieved for her daughter every day and claimed she wouldn’t have committed the crime if it weren’t for her mental illness. She added, “I see my daughter in my tears” and said she was at peace with her punishment.
The prosecutors painted a different picture of Chloe. They described her as intelligent but irresponsible, pointing out behavior they called “callous” during the trial, such as having inappropriate phone conversations with her boyfriend. They also emphasized the lasting emotional toll on police officers and jurors, who were visibly shaken by the evidence. Body camera footage and crime scene photos were so disturbing that even seasoned officers and jurors cried during the trial.
Judge Ellen McElyea called the crime a “heinous offense” that deeply disturbed everyone involved. She said it was the kind of case that required resources to help jurors deal with the trauma of what they’d seen and heard. The judge acknowledged Chloe’s severe mental illness, referencing testimony from psychologists and Chloe’s suicide attempt after the murder. Despite this, the jury’s decision to find her guilty but mentally ill stood, and the judge handed down the life sentence. Chloe was also given an additional 20 years to serve concurrently, due to the young age of the victim.
The court left the management of Chloe’s mental health treatment to the Georgia Department of Corrections.
What Happened to Hannah Nicole Driver?
The tragic events unfolded on December 8, 2020, in a quiet Canton neighborhood called Mountain View. Chloe, along with two men, three women, and her baby, stopped at a home while traveling as part of what officials described as a cult making its way from North Carolina to Florida. Shortly after arriving, Chloe took a knife from the kitchen, locked herself and her daughter in a bedroom, and stabbed her baby before turning the knife on herself.
First responders arrived to find Hannah’s father desperately trying to save her. Tragically, the 13-month-old had been stabbed four times, with fatal injuries to her neck, esophagus, spine, and back. She was pronounced dead at the scene, while Chloe survived her self-inflicted wounds.
Inside the Trial
The trial, which lasted six days, featured 21 witnesses and 135 pieces of evidence, including 911 calls, crime scene photos, and the knife used in the murder. Chloe’s defense argued she was legally insane at the time of the crime, but the State successfully argued that she didn’t meet Georgia’s legal definition of insanity.
This case remains a chilling reminder of how mental health struggles and tragedy can intersect in devastating ways. Hannah Nicole Driver’s story touched the hearts of many, leaving a lasting impact on the community and everyone involved in seeking justice for her.
