Minneapolis: A federal judge dismissed charges against a Minnesota man accused of hiding stolen ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.
Defendant’s Death
Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, died on Sunday, leading prosecutors to drop the case. He had lung disease and other ailments.
He was set to plead guilty in January, but hospitalization postponed the hearing.
Federal prosecutor Matthew Greenley informed the court of his passing but did not provide details.
Judge Patrick Schiltz approved dismissing the charges on Monday.
Defense attorney John Brink confirmed Saliterman’s death but shared no further information.
Health Struggles
Saliterman was hospitalized in January due to sepsis and inability to walk.
During his arraignment, he appeared via video from a hospital bed.
Last month, his lawyer reported that he had been moved to hospice care.
His doctor diagnosed him with severe COPD and Parkinson’s disease.
He was in a wheelchair and using oxygen at his first court appearance in March 2023.
The Ruby Slippers
The stolen slippers belonged to Hollywood collector Michael Shaw.
They were taken from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005.
Their location remained unknown until the FBI recovered them in 2018.
In December, they were auctioned for $32.5 million, setting a record.
The museum attempted to buy them but failed, despite state lawmakers offering $100,000.
Stolen Artifact
Judy Garland wore multiple pairs of ruby slippers during filming.
Only three other pairs remain in existence.
Terry Jon Martin, now 78, was the original thief.
He used a hammer to break into the museum and steal the slippers.
He believed the shoes had real jewels, inflating their insured value to $1 million.
Mob Connection
Martin thought the slippers contained real gemstones based on mob-related information.
After realizing they were fake, he got rid of them.
The slippers eventually ended up with Saliterman.
Martin was sentenced in January 2023 to time served due to poor health.
His lawyers called the theft “one last score” for the aging ex-mobster.
Judy Garland’s Legacy
Judy Garland was born as Frances Gumm in 1922.
She lived in Grand Rapids until she was four years old.
She became a Hollywood icon and died in 1969.
The Judy Garland Museum holds the largest collection of her memorabilia.
It remains dedicated to preserving her legacy.
