Charges Dropped in Ruby Slippers Theft After Suspect Dies

Jerry Hal Saliterman, accused of hiding Judy Garland's stolen ruby slippers, died Sunday, effectively closing the nearly two-decade case.

Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, passed away Sunday, leading to the dismissal of charges related to the theft of Judy Garland's ruby slippers.
The slippers, stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, were recovered by the FBI in 2018 after 13 years of mystery.
Saliterman was accused of hiding the slippers in his backyard for years and faced additional charges of witness tampering.
The ruby slippers, one of four pairs worn by Garland in 'The Wizard of Oz,' sold for $28 million in December 2024, setting a record for movie memorabilia.
Terry Jon Martin, who admitted to the 2005 theft in a smash-and-grab burglary, was sentenced to time served in 2023 due to his poor health.