A judge in Georgia expressed strong disapproval of a mother accused of fatally stabbing her 13-month-old daughter. During the sentencing, Cherokee County Chief Superior Court Judge Ellen McElyea described the crime as “heinous” and “unfathomable.”
“You did a horrible thing,” Judge McElyea told 24-year-old Chloe Driver on her sentencing day. She emphasized that the graphic details of the case were so upsetting that she sought support for the jurors involved.
McElyea spoke about the deep moral violation of a parent harming their child, stating that such an act offends our basic understanding of human relationships and trust.
Driver was sentenced to life in prison with a chance for parole after being found guilty but mentally ill of several charges, including murder and child cruelty, related to the death of her daughter, Hannah, in December 2020.
The tragic event unfolded on December 8, 2020, when the Canton Police Department responded to a call at a home in Cherokee County, Georgia, where they found Hannah with serious stab wounds. Chloe Driver, who also sustained life-threatening injuries, was taken to the hospital.
Testifying in court, prosecutors claimed that Driver killed Hannah because she wanted to be with her husband, who was part of a polygamous relationship. During the trial, a letter allegedly written by Driver revealed her struggles with her mental state, expressing a desire to be with her family.
Prosecutors highlighted that Driver’s motive stemmed from her wish to return to her husband, who they claimed was involved in a polygamist lifestyle.
In a statement during her sentencing, Driver expressed deep remorse for her actions, saying, “I am terribly sorry for many things in my life but most of all for who was lost, and I always will be. Every single day I live with my guilt.”
