Man indicted for stealing Wizard of Oz ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore
A man has been indicted in the theft of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz.
Terry Martin was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday, on one count of theft of a major artwork, according to federal prosecutors in North Dakota on Wednesday.
Martin stole the slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005, the indictment alleges.
The shoes were recovered by the FBI in 2018. The slippers were being loaned to the museum in Garland’s hometown when someone entered through a window and broke a display case to take them, prosecutor said at the time.
Garland wore the recovered shoes in the 1939 musical and they are one of only four ruby slippers she wore during the production. Playing the lead role Dorothy, Garland famously clicked her heels wearing them and said, ‘There’s no place like home’.
The slippers were insured from $1million at the time of the theft and are now worth around $3.5million, according to federal prosecutors.
The indictment did not include more information on Martin. There was no attorney listed for him in online records.
A summons for Martin on Wednesday stated that his initial court appearance has been scheduled for June 1 and will be done on video.
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