A new three-part documentary will take a look at one of the biggest true crime cases of the late '90s.
British teen Louise Woodward was branded a "killer nanny" after the 8-month-old in her care in 1997 was found dead. The then 19-year-old was hired to look after Matthew Eappen by his parents in Massachusetts. The little boy died of injuries just 10 weeks after Louise took the role as his au pair.
Evidence showed the baby died as a result of injuries from shaken baby syndrome, but Louise always maintained her innocence. Using new technology, this documentary examines whether or not Louise was guilty of the crimes she was accused of.
In 1997, British teen Louise Woodward made headlines across the United States and the UK. Then 19, Louise was hired as an au pair by the family of 8-month-old Matthew Eappen. After 10 weeks under Louise's care, Matthew died.
On February 4, 1997, Louise called 911 after Matthew stopped breathing. He was taken to Boston Children's Hospital and put on a life support machine. It was there doctors saw evidence of shaken baby syndrome.
Louise was arrested the following day. She pleaded not guilty to child battery, despite police indicating she admitted to shaking the child and throwing him into a pile of towels.
After Matthew suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, his parents made the difficult decision to turn off his life support. He died on February 10, leading prosecutors to pursue a murder indictment. In March 1997, a grand jury decided Louise would face a first-degree murder charge.
Louise went on trial in October 1997. Experts' testimony surprised many by being in Louise's favor. Brain surgeon Joseph Madsen asserted Matthew could have suffered the injuries that led to his death days or weeks before he was taken to the hospital. Pathologist Gerard Feigin said there was no evidence that Matthew had been shaken.
On October 30, 1997, a jury found Louise Woodward guilty of second-degree murder after 26 hours of deliberation.
"I didn't do it … I didn't hurt Matty," Louise cried out in the court as she was found guilty of the charge with a minimum 15-year sentence.
Louise's legal team begged the judge to consider, at minimum, a lesser charge.
On November 10, the judge decided to reduce Louise's sentence to involuntary manslaughter. He cut the sentence down to 279 days, exactly the period of time she had already spent in prison, which meant she was free to go. Louise returned home to the UK after the ordeal.
"Of course I am upset I have a conviction, but it's a conviction I don't deserve. But I think in time the truth will come and in time I will be cleared," she told reporters upon returning to the UK, per the Associated Press.
"As for future I guess I have to think about that too, I'd like to go to university like I was planning to do in the first place, I'd like to do what any other 20 year old would do, I'd like to get a part-time job and just do normal things."
Today, Louise is married. She works as a salsa dance instructor at a dance school she owns. He husband owns a truck hiring business. The two share a daughter, Holly, born in 2014.
"I know there are some people out there just waiting for me to have a baby so they can say nasty things. That upsets me, but that is not going to stop me leading my life," Louise said in 2007, per ABC News.
"I am innocent. I have done nothing wrong. I am entitled to enjoy my life. I am not going to apologize for being happy."
To this day, there's division between those who think Louise was responsible for Matthew's death and those who believe it could have been a terrible accident. The new documentary hopes to provide perspective on the case using what we know more than 20 years later, with input from both the defense and prosecution lawyers, detectives, paramedics, and journalists.
