Mother Convicted of Murdering Baby After Believing She Was ‘Pouring Sin’ into Her
A Georgia mother, Chloe Driver, has been found guilty of brutally murdering her 13-month-old daughter, Hannah, in a case that revealed shocking details of mental illness, extreme beliefs, and a polygamist lifestyle.
Driver, 24, was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children, and aggravated assault. The jury rejected her insanity plea, finding her guilty but mentally ill, holding her criminally responsible for the crime. She will be sentenced on December 12.
The tragedy unfolded on December 8, 2020, when police responded to a home in Canton, Georgia. They found Driver lying on a mattress, holding the bloodied hand of her baby, who had suffered fatal stab wounds. Prosecutors argued that Driver was motivated by a desire to have her husband, Ben Michael, to herself, as he maintained relationships with two other wives in their polygamist group, according to the Independent.
During the trial, graphic testimony shed light on Driver’s mental state and the abusive environment she endured. She was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and paranoia, which were exacerbated by the cult-like practices of her husband’s group. These included unorthodox rituals such as urine drinking and isolating “dark therapy,” where Driver was confined to a bed without access to a bathroom.
Driver’s delusions intensified after Hannah’s birth. Forensic psychologist Dr. McLendon Garrett testified that Driver believed she was “pouring her sin” into her child through breastfeeding and saw herself and Hannah as embodiments of sin. The final trigger came when her husband threw a dirty shirt at her, an act Driver said pushed her to “snap.”
On the day of the murder, Driver locked herself and Hannah in a bedroom and stabbed the child multiple times before attempting to take her own life. She later wrote a letter confessing to the crime, stating, “He didn’t do it. I did it. I was going insane.”
Defense attorneys argued that Driver was coerced and mentally unwell, highlighting the abusive dynamics of her marriage and upbringing. However, prosecutors maintained that the murder was premeditated, pointing to Driver’s desire to isolate her husband from his other wives.
The jury’s verdict, “guilty but mentally ill,” ensures Driver will receive mental health treatment while serving her sentence. The case has drawn attention to the complex interplay of mental illness, abuse, and extreme beliefs that culminated in the tragic loss of young Hannah’s life.