The driver involved in a late-September crash that killed three members of the Putman family pleaded no contest on Dec. 9 to three misdemeanor counts of moving violation causing death and was sentenced to one year in jail plus $1,425 in fines. The victims were Bill "Papa" Putman, Barb "Neenee" Putman and their daughter Megan. Several relatives were hospitalized, including Megan’s husband Blake and the children Noah, Lulu and Alena; Gia underwent a cranioplasty as part of a series of surgeries. The Putmans — known from TLC and YouTube — have asked for continued prayers and thanked medical staff as they recover.
Driver Sentenced to One Year After Crash Kills Three Members of 'Meet the Putmans' Family
Growing Up Putman/instagramThe Putman Family
Pavel B. Shchukin, 55, has been sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest to three misdemeanor counts of moving violation causing death in connection with a late-September crash that killed three members of the Putman family.
According to court records, Shchukin entered the no-contest pleas on Dec. 9 and was ordered to pay $1,425 in fines. The collision occurred in Tuscola County, Michigan, and claimed the lives of Bill "Papa" Putman, Barb "Neenee" Putman and their daughter Megan.
TLC/YouTubeThe Putman family on 'Meet the Putmans' on TLC
Injuries, Family Response and Court Moment
Several other family members were seriously injured. Megan’s husband Blake and their children Noah, Lulu and Alena were hospitalized after the crash. A fourth injured child, Gia (the daughter of Blake’s brother Brandon), has endured multiple surgeries; family posts said Gia underwent her 10th major procedure within roughly 75 days, later identified as a cranioplasty.
The Putmans — who first gained public attention on TLC’s 2017 series Meet the Putmans and later on their YouTube series Growing Up Putman — have shared regular health updates via their social accounts since the incident. Ahead of Shchukin’s court appearance, the family released a statement describing the profound loss, praising medical staff and asking followers to continue praying for the injured children and the family as they navigated recovery and the legal proceedings.
“We’ve lost three guiding Godly people in our lives who we looked to for wisdom every day,” the family wrote, noting the strain of having multiple children hospitalized at once and expressing gratitude for the care team and community support.
The misdemeanor convictions and one-year sentence represent the legal outcome reported on Dec. 9. The family will continue recovery efforts while processing the loss and damage from the crash.
