Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers Thief From Minnesota Gets Away With It… Or Does He?
The Wizard of Oz ruby slipper heist takes a new turn as a second man is charged! 🎭 Will the truth finally click its heels three times? 👠👠👠 #WizardOfOz #RubySlippers #HollywoodMystery
Grand Rapids, Minnesota – In a twist that even the Wicked Witch of the West couldn’t have predicted, a second man has found himself caught up in the bizarre case of the stolen Wizard of Oz ruby slippers!
My hubby Jack and I first reported on the stolen red ruby slippers on our Midwest travel news podcast and here on the blog (“The Case of Dorothy’s Stolen Ruby Red Slippers”), and we promised to keep you updated. Well, last night we got some more breaking news! Buckle up, this is a wild one!
A Heist Straight Out of a Movie 🎬
Nearly two decades ago, a brazen thief smashed his way into the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, making off with one of the world’s most iconic pieces of movie memorabilia – a pair of the famous ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland herself in the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz. The daring robbery left authorities scratching their heads for years… until now.
The Plot Thickens 🕵️
Enter Jerry Hal Saliterman, a 76-year-old man from Crystal, Minnesota, who has found himself ensnared in this Hollywood whodunit. According to an unsealed indictment from late last night, Saliterman is accused of receiving, concealing, and disposing of the stolen slippers, all while knowing full well that they were hot property. But the intrigue doesn’t stop there!
A Scandal Fit for Tinseltown 🎥
The indictment also alleges that Saliterman resorted to some downright dirty tactics to keep the slippers under wraps. Apparently, he threatened to release a lewd tape featuring a woman and take her down with him if she spilled the beans about the ill-gotten footwear. Talk about a scandal straight out of a Hollywood tabloid!
The Mastermind Behind the Heist 🎩
But wait, there’s more! The man who actually stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, has already pleaded guilty to the crime. The 76-year-old admitted to smashing the museum’s door and display case with a hammer in a misguided attempt to score some quick cash.
Fool’s Gold… Or Fool’s Rubies? 💎
Shockingly, Martin claimed that he had no idea about the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never even seen The Wizard of Oz! Apparently, an old associate with mob ties convinced him that the shoes were adorned with real rubies, and Martin hoped to sell them for a pretty penny. Too bad for him, the “rubies” turned out to be nothing more than colored glass and sequins.
The Great Slipper Caper: Case Closed? 🔍
While the FBI has remained tight-lipped about how they finally tracked down the missing slippers, one thing is for sure – this case has more twists and turns than the Yellow Brick Road itself. As for the ruby slippers, they were returned to their rightful owner, Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, who had loaned them to the museum before they were stolen.
The Legacy of Judy Garland Lives On 🌟
Although this real-life crime story may have tarnished the slippers’ sparkle a bit, nothing can dim the legacy of Judy Garland and her iconic role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Garland went on to become one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars, and the Judy Garland Museum proudly boasts the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.
As for Saliterman, he remains free on his own recognizance, with his attorney insisting that he’s done nothing wrong. But with the curtain finally lifted on this long-running mystery, it seems that the great Wizard of Oz ruby slipper caper may finally be coming to a close.
🗣 Are you as fascinated by this case as we are? Uff da! We’d LOVE to hear from you in the comments section below. ⬇️
