Former nanny Louise Woodward, once dubbed the "killer nanny," is set to re-enter the public consciousness with a five-part HBO series detailing her 1997 conviction for the death of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen. Woodward, now 48, was recently photographed in Shropshire, England, as the 30th anniversary of Eappen's death approaches.
The case captivated global audiences when Woodward, then 18, was charged with murder after baby Matthew died in Massachusetts from a fractured skull and brain injury. Initially found guilty of second-degree murder, her conviction was later reduced to involuntary manslaughter by a judge.
The HBO series, titled "The Trial Of Louise Woodward," will star Meghann Fahy, known for her role in "The White Lotus." The series is written and directed by Matthew Barry, who stated that the trial raised pertinent questions about childcare, working mothers, class, and media's role, issues he believes remain relevant. It is not known if Woodward has been involved in the production.
Woodward, who returned to Britain after her conviction was reduced, has since married Antony Elkes and has a daughter. She has consistently maintained her innocence. Her defense team argued that Matthew's death could have been caused by an earlier head injury, while prosecution experts claimed he suffered from shaken baby syndrome. The defense team was supported by brain surgeon Joseph Madsen.
In October 1997, Woodward was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years. Her mother expressed dismay, calling it a "horrendous mistake." However, two days after the verdict, it was revealed that jurors were divided. One juror later stated they did not believe she had intended to murder the child.
Ten days after sentencing, Judge Hiller Zobel reduced the conviction to involuntary manslaughter, sentencing her to the time she had already served. He cited confusion, inexperience, immaturity, and anger, but not legal malice, as factors in her actions. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the reduced conviction and sentence, allowing Woodward to return to Britain.
After her return, Woodward expressed a desire for a normal life, stating she felt she did not deserve the manslaughter conviction and hoped the truth would emerge. She pursued higher education, earning a law degree, and later worked at a law firm before becoming a ballroom and Latin dance teacher. She married in 2013.
The case had a significant impact in Massachusetts, reportedly playing a role in the defeat of efforts to reinstate capital punishment in the state. Representative John P. Slattery, who switched his vote from supporting to opposing the death penalty bill, cited the Woodward case as a reason for his change of heart.
Further questioning of the conviction emerged in 2011 when Patrick Barnes, a key prosecution witness and pediatric radiologist, stated that advancements in MRI technology had changed the understanding of infant head injuries. He indicated that conditions previously attributed to shaken baby syndrome could now be identified as other causes, such as infections or strokes.