‘Even in this valley, we will praise Him…’ Tragedy for TLC’s Putman family as grandparents and daughter-in-law killed in horror crash… comes after years of turmoil following cancelled reality show… and shocking past legal battles resurface in heartbreaking twist… - suong
A REALITY-STAR family who lost their grandparents and a daughter-in-law in a tragic crash on Friday had battled legal issues in the years after their TLC show was canceled in 2017.
The Putman family hit the spotlight eight years ago in a six-episode TLC series following their lives as all 26 adults and kids lived under one roof.
The family revived the show on their YouTube channel Growing Up Putman in 2021.
Meet the Putmans grandparents, "Papa" Bill and "Neenee" Barb, and daughter-in-law Megan died in a crash on Friday night after a semi-truck driver allegedly ran a red light and smashed into their jeep.
Megan’s husband Blake; three of their children Lulu, Alena and Noah; and their niece Gia, were also hurt in the crash and remain hospitalized.
The driver and his passenger suffered minor injuries and he has been taken into custody, cops said.
“Think of the four couples that you are best friends with and enjoy spending a lot of time with,” Blake previously told the Huron Daily Tribune of his family's decision to live all together in their 34,000-foot home in Michigan.
“Now, imagine living with them. That’s how I feel about my (family).
“God has blessed us for an astronomical amount,” Blake continued.
“We want to pass blessings on to everyone else. We have the same problems and issues as other families. This is how our family gets through it.”
Those problems Blake mentioned included gun charges and filing a lawsuit against the sheriff in the years after their TLC show ended, according to Huron Daily.
In 2019, son Brandon was acquited in a federal court of firearm charges after being arrested in February 2018 and accused of manufacturing machine guns.
He had faced single counts of unlawfully receiving an unregistered firearm, unlawfully receiving or possessing a firearm, and receiving a firearm without a serial number.
He was accused of approaching a gun store owner and offering $100 each for them to duplicate ten devices that transform a semi-automatic AR rifle into a fully-automatic assault rifle.
It legally costs $40,000 for one of these devices to be registered with the National Firearms Act.
However the family's lawyers noted that they possesses a Federal Firearms License (FFL), as well as a Class 3 Special Occupational Tax (SOT) license.
“When you have both (licenses), you can purchase, possess, transport and receive automatic weapons,” their lawyer told Huron Daily after the aquittal.
Bill Putman had also intially been charged with possessing an illegal firearm.
Those charges were also dropped.
“It had to be dismissed because there was no evidence that Bill Putman ever knew the firearm had been modified,” another of the family's lawyers, Don Davis, said.
HOME RAIDS
Several of the family's properties were raided as part of the investigation.
The ATF raids came after claims the family were building an underground shooting range, a tunnel and hidden rooms in their new home, Huron Daily reported.
"The blueprint indicates that in the center section of the residence there is an underground tunnel that extends into the backyard, and a room at the end of the tunnel, away from the house," the affidavit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) read.
"It appears that the room at the end of the tunnel is located under an old barn.”
A construction worker on the home also reported to the ATF they had seen a safe room under an old barn.
The same worker claimed to have heard members of the Putman family talking about a safe room and stocking guns in a space of concrete under the house.
However, no safe room or shooting room were found by the ATF.
“No safe room or shooting tube were discovered by the search team,” the ATF said.
“Apparently because those portions of the house are completely concealed by the finished wall.”
PRISON LAWSUIT
Grandad Bill was also taken into custody again in 2022 and served a 30-day sentence in the Tuscola County Jail for an assault and battery conviction, the Daily Huron reported.
He was found guilty of assaulting two contruction workers at a medical facility the family owns.
However the family sued after claiming Bill was denied life-saving medication during his time behind bars.
Bill, who suffered from congestive heart failure, claimed he was "intentionally" denied his medication.
The lawsuit claimed Bill was forced to go through multiple surgeries after he suffered a cardiac arrhythmia and subsequent coronary occlusion because he was denied the medication.
His son Blake was his primary care physician and reportedly told the sheriff's office officials and jail staff of Bill's medical condition.
The case still remains open, according to Huron Daily.
HORROR ACCIDENT
The crash reportedly took place on Friday night in Tuscola County, Michigan, about 100 miles north of Detroit.
Cops were initally called to an "unknown" collision between two vehicles at around 9pm that night.
A 55-year-old Florida man was arrested at the scene after finding he had allegedly run the stop sign while driving commercial semi-truck with one female passenger, Tuscola County Sheriff's office said.
The truck plowed into a Jeep carrying eight members of the Putman family.
Bill, Barb, and Megan were declared dead at the scene.
The other five family members were rushed to hospital by helicopter.
Some are in critical condition, cops say.
The semi truck driver and passenger were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
heir names have not been released.
"This remains an active investigation and names will not be released at this time," the sheriff's office confirmed.
'"We are asking the public to please pay more attention when driving.
"We are having far too many crashes that are destroying people’s lives."
FAMILY ASKS FOR PRAYERS
The other members of the Putman family issue a devastating statement on Saturday after the loss of their parents.
"We are asking for complete healing and strength for each of them," the family wrote.
“We ask for your continued prayers for Uncle Blake, Lulu, Alena, Noah, and Gia as they recover, and for our whole family as we walk through this deep loss.
"Even in this valley, we will praise Him. We trust that His plan is perfect, and that one day, we will be reunited in Heaven.
"My entire family — Papa, Neenee, Billy, Jen, Brandon, Kacie, Blake, Megan, Jamie, Blair, myself (Isabelle), Abby, Emma, Addison, Bella, Mercy, Gabby, Noah, Mya, Nova, Lulu, Alena, Gia, Jonah, Eli, Solomon, Uriah, Samson, Luke, and Anna — all proclaim that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior," the family's statement about the deaths continued.
"He is our hope, our peace, and our salvation. Even in this time of heartbreak, we rest in knowing that God is in control.
"Our greatest comfort is found in the Gospel itself—that Jesus died for our sins so that we may have eternal life with Him."
‘Is Ellie ok?’ Strictly fans left heartbroken as show’s first ever Down syndrome contestant breaks down on live TV and has to be comforted by pros — after admitting doctors once told her parents she would “never walk or...- suong
Strictly fans have voiced their concerns for Ellie Goldstein as the 'upset' star appeared to be comforted by professional dancers on the first live show.
The model, 23, is paired in this year's competition with pro Vito Coppola and is already a favourite with fans.
She is the show's first ever contestant with Down syndrome and on Saturday night performed a cha-cha-cha to Yes, And? by Ariana Grande - earning 17 points.
But later on in the show as host Claudia Winkleman spoke to a La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec about their routine, Ellie appeared to get upset.
She was supported by professional dancers Dianne Buswell, Karen Hauer and contestant Harry Aikines-Aryeetey who put their arms around her and looked to be quietly speaking to her.
Those watching at home noticed the moment and penned on X: 'I've noticed Ellie looking uncomfortable. Also noticed her being supported by other dancers.',
Strictly fans have voiced their concerns for Ellie Goldstein as the 'upset' star appeared to be comforted by professional dancers on the first live show
She is the show's first ever contestant with Down syndrome and on Saturday night performed a cha-cha-cha to Yes, And? by Ariana Grande - earning 17 points
'Ellie looks a bit upset so it's lovely to see Harry and Karen comforting her #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.',
'Watching #Strictly last night, I noticed that Ellie appeared upset, and was being comforted/reassured by Karen and, I think, Harry?.',
'Is Ellie ok? #strictly.'
After the live show she took to Instagram however to share a positive message to say she'd had an 'amazing day'.
It comes after last week Ellie declared she wants to be an inspiration to other people with disabilities after becoming the show's first ever contestant with Down syndrome.
She said the competition would give her opportunity to show 'what she was capable of'.
When Ellie was born, doctors said that she would 'never walk or talk', and one nurse devastatingly suggested that her parents might want to 'leave her' at the hospital.
But she has defied all expectations going on to model for Vogue and star in CBBC's Malory Towers, before signing up for Strictly.
But later on in the show as host Claudia Winkleman spoke to a La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec about their routine, Ellie appeared to get upset
Those watching at home noticed the moment and penned on X: 'I've noticed Ellie looking uncomfortable. Also noticed her being supported by other dancers'
Ahead of Saturday's first live show Ellie said: 'Being the first contestant with Down syndrome in the main Strictly series gives me the chance to show everyone who I am, what I've achieved, and what I'm capable of'.
'I hope I can be an inspiration to others watching at home – and most of all, I hope I make people smile and feel happy when they see me dancing!'.
Gucci hired Ellie for its Unconventional Beauty adverts, landing her the cover of Italian Vogue in 2020.
She has graced the covers of numerous magazines, including Elle and Glamour, featured in promotions for Gucci Beauty, Adidas, TK Maxx, Body Shop, Boots, Spotify, Victoria's Secret and Sports Direct, and even hung in the National Portrait Gallery in London on two occasions.
The model, 23, is paired in this year's competition with pro Vito Coppola and is already a favourite with fans
Ellie has been flown to Sweden, Italy and Germany for photoshoots, and has just strutted her stuff on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.
When Mattel launched its first Barbie with Down's syndrome, the company hired the star to help promote the doll.
'I've done so much modelling and I love it,' she previously told Daily Mail.
'And I adored doing the Barbie job — it was great to finally see a doll that looked like me.'
