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Chloe Driver appears in a Cherokee County courtroom on November 14, 2024. (Pool)

CANTON, Ga. – The trial of Chloe Driver, a Cherokee County mother who is accused of stabbing her youngest daughter to deathHannah Nicole Driver, in December 2020, entered the third day on Thursday.

Most of the testimony came from the lead detective on the case, with several videos played for jurors before the state rested its case.

Chloe Driver’s confession caught on camera

Testimony began Thursday with Canton Police Detective Taina Cruz, who was the lead investigator on the case.

She discussed collecting two mobile phones during the search of the house and taking a swab from the inside of the cheek of Benyamin Ben Michael, also known as Brian Joyce or “Z”, in order to determine Hannah’s parentage. DNA evidence was also collected from Chloe’s hands.

Detective Cruz told jurors that he visited Chloe in the hospital, where Chloe was unable to speak due to a severe neck injury. During this visit, which was recorded and played for jurors, Cruz read Chloe her Miranda rights, and Chloe acknowledged them in writing. Chloe, using a pen and paper, immediately wrote two questions: “I want to know if my baby survived as soon as possible” and “I want to know who is staying with her.” Cruz then informed Chloe that her daughter had died.

When asked if her husband caused her injuries, Chloe wrote: “He didn’t. I did it.” She explained: “I was going crazy and didn’t want to be with his friends anymore, but I kept going back for him. I only wanted my child and my husband, but he refused.”

During the interview, Chloe repeatedly asked to see her husband, Benyamin Ben Michael. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, he was not allowed to enter the hospital. Cruz also informed Chloe that her mother was on her way from Knoxville, Tennessee.

The next day, Cruz returned for a second interview, where Chloe asked, “How long will my prison sentence be for killing her?” A clip of this interview was played for the jury, in which Cruz called out Ben Michael for Chloe. When asked if he had seen their daughter, Hannah — who they referred to by her Hebrew name, “Nim” — he replied, “I have not seen our deceased child.”

Ben Michael then questioned Chloe about why she committed the act. Through Cruz, Chloe responded in writing: “I felt the safest. Then I felt awful. I went because I had no choice.” She later wrote that she took the knife because she felt trapped with no alternative, citing “certain threats” as a factor.

“You always had a choice,” Ben Michael replied in the video. “Why did you feel you had no choice?”

At one point, Chloe talked about the “dark magic” done to her daughter.

“Because I couldn’t handle being with the group anymore and you left no alternative for certain threats,” Cruz read from Chloe’s written response. Ben Michael stated that he was unaware of the threats Chloe was referring to. Chloe, speaking through Cruz, accused him of taking their money and not allowing her to “buy land and stay with (Hannah) as long as needed,” stating that she had a group to take care of and that she make them responsible for their problems.

“No, you were blaming yourself for everything,” he replied. “Yeah, you kept telling me,” Chloe replied.

After playing the full record, the court retired for lunch. When it resumed, the prosecution questioned Cruz further about Chloe’s personal items. Among the articles was a video recorded a month before the incident, dated November 27, 2020. In it, Chloe stated: “My name is Chloe Driver, it’s 11/27/2020. I am forced to get into a truck. with Benyamin Ben Michael, or Brian Joyce, to see my daughter because he kept her away from me, I don’t know where she is. He kept her with the people.”

Cruz also testified about several trusts and financial accounts that were uncovered during the investigation. It was something the defense questioned Cruz about in cross-examination.

Investigator DeAnna Jarrett of the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office also took the stand to discuss the search for Chloe’s phone. She confessed that Chloe sought to “kill someone to save them” and “kill because the world was fake.” She also looked up “how to break a neck,” which led her to a website that talks about how much force is actually needed to kill someone.

Then the state rested its case.

Chloe Driver Murder Trial Day 2 Recap: Witness Describes Family

Jason Spillars, a friend and former associate of Driver’s, testified Wednesday detailing her connection to Benyamin Ben Michael, known as “Z.” Spillars described Z’s polygamous lifestyle, stating that Z had relationships with three women, including Driver. Spillars painted a picture of Z’s household as harmonious and supportive, with the women willingly embracing their unconventional family structure, practicing veganism, and even engaging in unorthodox health rituals.

Spillars’ testimony ventured into controversial aspects of the group’s lifestyle, including “dark therapy” and traditional gender roles. He stated that the women were content with their roles and highlighted Z’s influence, stating that Driver’s involvement was voluntary and based on shared beliefs rather than coercion. He noted that Driver often cycled through periods of mental distress that sometimes required intervention.

Recalling her time with Hannah, Spillars became emotional, portraying Driver as a loving mother who truly cared for her child. His testimony took a darker turn as he recounted a change in Driver’s behavior marked by increasing delusions and paranoia. Spillars recalled a moment when Driver expressed an overwhelming desire to protect Hannah, a mindset that grew more intense in the weeks leading up to the fatal incident.

The prosecution’s line of questioning then moved to December 2020, the day of Hanna’s death. Spillars described the horrifying scene he witnessed after hearing Z scream. Entering the room, he found blood everywhere, Z attempting CPR, and Hannah making weak gurgles. He recalled Driver’s injuries and her chilling words, “I should die,” as she tried to stop his bleeding.

Dr. Asif Choudhary, a psychiatrist, provided insight into Driver’s mental state leading up to the incident. Choudhary testified that Driver had feelings of entrapment, isolation and a growing fear of her partner. Her notes revealed that Driver saw herself and her family as characters in a “movie we can rewind”, expressing paranoia and a deepening sense of disconnection from reality.

A doctor from the emergency room, Dr. Carli Blomquist described the medical team’s unsuccessful efforts to revive Hannah. She recounted the grim scene, noting the severity of Hannah’s injuries and her observation that the child had lost a substantial amount of blood by the time she reached the hospital.

Dr. Lora Darrisaw, a medical examiner with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, detailed the autopsy results. Darrisaw confirmed multiple stab wounds, including one that penetrated Hannah’s spine. The nature of these injuries emphasized the severity of the attack, painting a grim picture of Hannah’s final moments.

Chloe Driver Murder Trial Day 1 Summary: Opening Statements

The murder trial began Tuesday with emotional testimony from witnesses and first responders. Driver, a 20-year-old woman from Cherokee County, was found with her daughter in an upstairs bedroom where officers responded to an emergency call. Despite the best efforts of doctors, Hannah succumbed to her injuries shortly after being taken to hospital.

Prosecutors say Driver’s actions may have been influenced by extreme beliefs promoted by a polyamorous group she was involved in that rejected modern medicine and adhered to strict lifestyle practices. However, Chief Deputy District Attorney Katie Groppe emphasized that those beliefs do not excuse the murder. The jury must determine whether Driver intended to kill her daughter, Groppe noted, as she described the brutality of the alleged crime.

The defense focused on the driver’s mental state, arguing that she was in severe psychological distress exacerbated by the manipulative relationships within the group. Defense attorney Angela Trethaway acknowledged that Driver killed her daughter, but argued that her mental health should be a key factor in the jury’s decision about her guilt. Testimony from first responders, including Canton Police Officer Gary Pruitt, painted a chaotic picture of the scene, with body camera footage showing the moments he discovered both mother and child.

Additional testimony from police investigators and paramedics detailed the physical evidence found, including the alleged murder weapon and Hannah’s injuries. Commander Lindsay Harris, a digital forensics expert, discussed analyzing the driver’s cellphone for information about her state of mind before the incident. The trial continues under Judge Ellen McElyea, with more testimony scheduled.