This story could easily be an award-winning Hollywood movie, but it’s a real-life incident. In 2005, a thief broke into the Judy Garland Museum in Minnesota and stole a pair of The Wizard of Oz ruby slippers. He is dead, but the crime he was part of remains one of the most bizarre thefts in Hollywood history. Jerry Hal Saliterman was one of the two men charged in connection with the theft of ruby slippers.
Saliterman was accused of concealing and disposing of the slippers, which were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. While another man, Terry Jon Martin, admitted to stealing them, Saliterman allegedly kept them hidden for years and threatened a witness to avoid exposure. He passed away at 77, and his death led a federal judge to dismiss the charges against him.
How did the ruby slippers theft happen?
🚨🇺🇸 ‘WIZARD OF OZ’ HEIST ENDS WITH SUSPECT’S DEATH—CASE CLOSED
The long-running mystery of the stolen ruby slippers just hit a final twist—Jerry Hal Salitermann, 77, the man accused of hiding the iconic shoes from The Wizard of Oz, has died, leading a federal judge to drop all… pic.twitter.com/NzFuELzYS9
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 18, 2025
The slippers, one of four known pairs worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film, were stolen in August 2005. According to court records, Martin broke into the museum by smashing a window and took the slippers, believing they were adorned with real rubies. However, after realizing the gems were fake, he claimed to have given them away without payment. The crime that had made headlines had ended for him, but it was only the beginning for the world.
For 13 years, the slippers remained missing despite ongoing investigations. But, the case took a new turn in 2018 when the FBI recovered the slippers in an undercover operation. A man contacted the company that insured the slippers, leading to an FBI sting operation that recovered them. Prosecutors accused him of concealing the slippers and threatening a witness to keep quiet.
How were the ruby slippers recovered?
Martin, now 77, pleaded guilty to stealing the slippers and was sentenced in January 2024 to one year of supervised release and $23,500 in restitution. His attorney cited poor health as a factor in the court’s decision to impose a light sentence.
However, for Saliterman, nearly two decades after the heist, he was finally charged. But before he could stand trial, he died, bringing his case to a sudden end. With his death in March 2025, prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the charges, which was granted by a federal judge. The ruby slippers, now confirmed as the “traveling pair,” were auctioned in December 2024 for $32 million.