Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Charges Dropped in Ruby Slippers Theft Case After Defendant Dies

Jerry Hal Saliterman, accused of hiding Judy Garland's stolen ruby slippers, passed away at 77, ending the legal proceedings tied to the 2005 theft.

FILE - Jerry Hal Saliterman, of Crystal, Minn., is wheeled out of U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minn., Friday, March 15, 2024, after he made his initial appearance on charges connected to the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski, file)
Image
FILE - The original ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz are displayed in London ahead of being offered for auction on Dec. 7, at Heritage Auctions in the US, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, file)
Image

Overview

  • Jerry Hal Saliterman, charged with hiding the stolen ruby slippers, died on March 16, 2025, leading to the dismissal of all charges against him the next day.
  • The ruby slippers, stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, were recovered by the FBI in 2018 after 13 years of being missing.
  • Saliterman, who suffered from chronic health issues, including COPD and Parkinson’s, had been hospitalized and discharged to hospice care before his death.
  • Terry Jon Martin, who confessed to stealing the slippers in a smash-and-grab burglary, pleaded guilty in 2023 and was sentenced to time served due to his failing health.
  • The recovered ruby slippers, one of four surviving pairs from 'The Wizard of Oz,' were sold at auction in December 2024 for a record-breaking $32.5 million.