CANTON, Ga. — A Tennessee woman, Chloe Driver, 24, is currently on trial for the alleged murder of her 13-month-old daughter, Hannah, which occurred in December 2020. The case has attracted significant attention due to its disturbing details and the defendant’s plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
During the trial, the court heard that Chloe Driver is facing multiple charges including malice murder, cruelty to children, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault. Driver’s defense team contends that she was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time of the incident, influenced by a combination of mental illness and a nomadic, polygamist lifestyle led by her husband, Benyamin Ben-Michaeil, also known as Brian Joyce.
The prosecution has argued that Driver manipulated the situation to her advantage, while the defense insists that her mental state was severely compromised due to her circumstances, including alleged abuse and manipulation at the hands of Ben-Michaeil. Witnesses have testified that Driver was part of a religious, polygamist community, which they claim contributed to her psychological decline.
On the evening of the tragic event, police responded to a distressing 911 call only to find both Chloe and her daughter, Hannah, in a bedroom with stabbing injuries. According to law enforcement and subsequent court documents, Hannah suffered fatal wounds with multiple stabs to her neck.
In a gripping moment in court, it was revealed through testimonies that Driver had ceased taking her prescribed mental health medications two to three months prior to the incident. A forensic psychologist supporting the defense diagnosed her with schizophrenia, delusions, and borderline personality disorder.
The court also heard from Driver’s mother, Renee Driver, who testified about her repeated, unsuccessful attempts to encourage her daughter to leave Ben-Michaeil and return home. Adding to the complexity of her defense, jurors viewed videos of Chloe Driver’s interviews with police while she was recovering in the hospital, where she indicated remorse and confusion over her actions.
As the trial unfolds, the jury was presented with conflicting views on Driver’s mental health. The defense argues that her actions were the result of a disturbed state caused by her difficult living conditions and abuse. In contrast, the prosecution asserts that Driver’s actions were premeditated, citing her internet searches on how to cause severe physical harm two weeks prior to Hannah’s death.
The testimony of Ben-Michael’s former partner, Gabriella Kuykendall, added depth to the portrayal of the environment surrounding Chloe Driver. Kuykendall detailed her own experiences of mental and physical abuse within the same polygamist setting before she ultimately left.
As the trial continues, the debate intensifies over the nature of Driver’s mental health at the time of the crime and whether her psychological condition justifies her actions, making this case a poignant example of the complexities involved in legal defenses based on mental health issues.