• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • ABOUT US
  • MEDIA
  • PRIVACY
  • TERMS
  • DMCA
  • CONTACT US
  • AUTHORS
do you remember

DoYouRemember?

The Home of Nostalgia

  • Celebrity News
    • Family
    • Obituaries
    • Life Behind the Fame
    • ICONS
    • Celebrity Feuds
  • Entertainment
    • Cast
    • Showbiz Rewind
    • Music
    • Beauty & fashion
  • STORIES
  • Celebrity Buzz!?
  • Sitcoms
    • Bewitched
    • Little Rascals
    • The Partridge Family
    • I Dream of Jeannie
    • All in the Family
    • MASH
    • Happy Days
    • Cheers
  • Celebrity Collections
  • SHOP DYR
    • DYR Book

Stories

Man Charged In Stealing Original ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Ruby Slippers Dies

by Peace A

Published March 20, 2025

man who stole ruby slippers dead

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.

Related:

  1. Minnesota Man Charged In 2005 Theft Of Iconic ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Ruby Slippers
  2. 76-Year-Old Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing Ruby Slippers From Judy Garland Museum

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.

man who stole ruby slippers dead
Jerry Hal Saliterman/X

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.

man who stole ruby slippers dead
THE WIZARD OF OZ, Judy Garland, 1939/Everett

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.

Next up: See What Farmers’ Almanac Predicts For Spring In Texas In 2025
Previous article: Carrie Underwood Performs Emotional Tribute For Randy Travis At The 100th Grand Ole Opry
Next Post: Elvis Presley’s Granddaughter, 16, Draws Attention With Recent ‘Blonde’ Photos

Primary Sidebar

© 2025 DoYouRemember? Inc.

  • about us
  • media
  • privacy
  • terms
  • DMCA
  • CONTACT US
  • AUTHORS