The Killer Nanny: Did She Do It? is a three-part documentary. This Sunday, Channel 4 will air a documentary about Louise Woodward, a nanny accused of killing an eight-month-old baby in 1997.
The documentary speaks to experts involved in the case, including lawyers, police, and medics, to unpack the murder charge, trial, and appeal that occurred after she was convicted 25 years later.
The case sent shockwaves through the UK, Woodward is from, and the US, where she was put on trial.
With the new Channel 4 documentary series premiering on Sunday, here’s everything you need to know about the ‘killer nanny’ featured in the series and what happened to her after the trial.
What Happened To Louise Woodward?
From Elton, Cheshire, Woodward flew to Boston, Massachusetts, to work as a nanny for the Eappen and their baby Matthew.
Woodward was reportedly dissatisfied with the 11 p.m. curfew after her family became concerned about her late nights out. So, while she was their nanny, the family established ground rules to follow.
When Matthew stopped breathing in February 1997, Woodward called an ambulance after not resuscitating him.
Matthew died five days later in the hospital.
The Trial of Louise Woodward – Story Explained.
Lauren Woodward, a nanny in Massachusetts, called an ambulance after she could not resuscitate an eight-month-old baby named Matthew Eappen.
Matthew was taken to a hospital in Boston, where he suffered internal bleeding and fractures to both the skull and a wrist before falling into a coma and eventually dying.
Woodward was later convicted of manslaughter after admitting to authorities that she had roughhousing with him a few days before.
She received a 15-year prison sentence. However, this sentence was reduced to 279 days after her charge was amended, resulting in her conviction for involuntary manslaughter.
Woodward’s conviction elicited widespread sympathy in the United Kingdom and worldwide. People contributed thousands of pounds to her cause.
Following the trial, Woodward returned to the United Kingdom in 1998.
Where Is Louise Woodward Now 2022?
By 2008, it was reported that she lived in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, and had opened a dance school.
In 2013, Woodward married Anthony Elkes, a truck rental company owner. In 2014, they welcomed a daughter.
“I know some people are waiting for me to have a baby so they can say nasty things,” she told The Daily Mail before her daughter was born.
“It bothers me, but it isn’t going to stop me from living my life.” I am not guilty.
Following her pregnancy announcement, Matthew’s aunt Mary Wong stated that she had a “right to have a child” but advised her to take parenting classes and learn to control her temper.