Another Individual Charged With 2005 Theft Of 'Wizard of Oz' Ruby Slippers

An additional individual face charges related to the theft of Judy Garland's famous ruby slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' in 2005, per a recently released indictment. 

At his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in St. Paul on Friday, Jerry Hal Saliterman faced charges of stealing the significant artwork and tampering with witnesses. The 76-year-old refrained from entering a plea during the proceeding.

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Nearly two decades ago, the iconic ruby slippers, embellished with sequins and glass beads, vanished from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the late actress' hometown. Their location remained unknown until the FBI recovered them in 2018.

According to the indictment, from August 2005 to July 2018, Saliterman, a resident of Crystal, Minnesota, engaged in the concealment of a culturally significant object, namely, an authentic pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz.' It states that Saliterman was aware of their stolen status and threatened to expose a woman's private video and "take her down with him" unless she remained silent about the slippers.

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During his court appearance on Friday, Saliterman, confined to a wheelchair and reliant on supplemental oxygen, exhibited signs of nervousness. While he acknowledged his understanding of the charges when questioned by U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright with a "yes," he remained silent regarding the allegations themselves.

Terry Jon Martin confessed to stealing the slippers in October and pleaded guilty to theft of a significant artwork. Martin, 76, admitted to breaking the museum's door and display case with a hammer, purportedly as a final criminal act after renouncing a life of crime, according to his attorney. Due to his deteriorating health, he was sentenced in January to time served.