Where is Louise Woodward now? ‘The Killer Nanny’ documentary explores case 25 years later

True crime fans are in for a treat as the documentary The Killer Nanny: Did She Do It? drops on Discovery+ today, August 21.

The three part series, which aired on Channel 4 earlier this year, re-examines the evidence from a trial 25 years ago which had the nation baffled.

British au pair Louise Woodward, 19, left to work for the Eappen family in Boston, Massachusetts in the US in 1997.

However, just 10 weeks after she started the job, one of the children who she cared for, eight-month-old Matthew, died from brain injuries.

Louise was accused of causing the brain injuries, and was subsequently arrested for battery of a child, with police accusing her of shaking the baby and “dropping” him.

Here we take a closer look at the horrific case – and where Louise is today.

Who is Louise Woodward?

Louise Woodward was born in Cheshire in 1978. After finishing her A-levels she moved to Boston, Massachusetts in the US, where she started working for the Eappen family.

Aged just 19, she worked as an au pair, and was employed by parents Deborah and Sunil Eappen.

However, 10 weeks after being employed, on February 1997, one of the children was taken to hospital after Louise noticed he wasn’t breathing.

Louise was later arrested for battery of a child after police alleged she had “dropped” Matthew on the bed.

Matthew fell into a coma five days after being admitted, and eventually died on February 9 1997 from a fractured skull and major brain haemorrhage.

What happened to Louise Woodward after being arrested?

Louise Woodward reportedly told police in a statement she had “popped the baby on the bed”, and they later alleged she had admitted to shaking the toddler.

These words were heard by the jury, and the prosecution argued that Matthew had died as a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Woodward pleaded not guilty to battery of a child, but the prosecution had painted her as a “liar”.

There was a clear divide among those who believed she was innocent or not, but she was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder, and was handed a mandatory life sentence, with a minimum of 15 to he served.

Where is Louise Woodward now?

Despite being handed a prison sentence, Louise is not longer incarcerated, and has returned to the UK.

After conviction, Louise’s legal team filed an appeal.

After a post-conviction relief hearing, the judge reduced the conviction to involuntary manslaughter.

Louise’s sentence was therefore reduced to time served. At this point Louise had already spent 279 days in prison awaiting trial.

So that meant, just 10 days after receiving her sentence, she was freed from prison.

Louise returned to the UK in June 1998, after which she took part in a BBC Panorama interview where she maintained she was innocent.

Since then, she has graduated with a degree in Law in Cheshire, and worked for a Manchester law firm.

However, she later left in order to pursue a dance career.

She is now known as Louise Elkes, having married and taken her husband Antony’s surname in 2013.

The couple live in Shropshire with their daughter, who was born in 2014.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2017, she said: “I know there are some people waiting for me to have a baby so they can say nasty things.”

“It upsets me but that is not going to stop me leading my life. I am innocent. I have done nothing wrong,” she added. “I am entitled to enjoy my life. I am not going to apologise for being happy.”

Now aged 43, she still teaches salsa, tango and ballroom dance classes near her home.