Grand Rapids man pleads guilty for theft of “Wizard of Oz” ruby slippers

Terry Jon Martin aged 76 of Grand Rapids Minnesota pleaded guilty in United States District Court for the theft of the iconic Ruby Slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz”. 

The slippers were first reported stolen back in 2005 when they were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids which is located in the house Garland was born in. The FBI says that the arrest that happened back in 2018 came after they received a lead in 2017 when a man approached the insurer of the slippers and said that he could help get the slippers back. 

After this occurred the slippers were recovered in an FBI art crime team sting operation and the Grand Rapids Police Department. The slippers are one of four authentic screen used slippers in existence and are estimated to be worth about $3.5 million. 
A sentencing date for Martin has not been scheduled, but the nonbinding federal sentencing guidelines have recommended eight to 10 years in similar cases. It is unknown if Martin will be fit to serve his sentence as he is in a wheelchair and uses oxygen.