Jerry Hal Saliterman, a 76-year-old resident of Crystal, Minnesota, faces charges related to the infamous 2005 theft of the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” Unveiled to the public on Sunday, March 17, an indictment accuses Saliterman of major artwork theft and tampering with a witness, revealing a plot twist in the nearly two-decade-old mystery of the slippers’ disappearance.
Saliterman did not plead during his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in St. Paul on Friday. These iconic shoes, valued for their cultural significance, were swiped from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Their recovery in 2018 by the FBI ended a long period of uncertainty.
According to the indictment, from August 2005 to July 2018, Saliterman knowingly possessed and intended to dispose of the stolen slippers. He allegedly threatened to expose a personal secret of a woman to ensure her silence about the theft.
At his court appearance, Saliterman, visibly frail and reliant on oxygen, displayed signs of anxiety. Despite the serious allegations, his attorney, John Brink, staunchly defended Saliterman’s innocence.
This case follows the guilty plea of Terry Jon Martin, the individual who confessed to physically stealing the slippers from the museum. Martin’s story revealed a desperate bid for “one last score,” misled by the allure of the slippers’ supposed real jewels.
The intertwining stories of Martin and Saliterman, and how their paths crossed over the ruby slippers, remain partially veiled. These slippers, one of only four authentic pairs remaining, hold an estimated value of $3.5 million and represent a significant part of cinematic history.
Garland, who donned several pairs of these slippers for her role as Dorothy, left a legacy that continues to enchant and intrigue fans worldwide. The ruby slippers, a symbol of hope and homecoming, were eventually recovered in an FBI operation, though the bureau has kept the specifics of the recovery under wraps.
As this story unfolds, it adds another layer to the legend of the ruby slippers, their journey from a museum artifact to a coveted piece of movie memorabilia, and their eventual return to the spotlight.
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