Man accused of stealing ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers from Minnesota museum to plead responsible

Harris Marley
Harris Marley

World Courant

In 2005, the ruby slippers featured in “The Wizard of Oz” have been stolen from the Judy Garland Museum within the actress’ hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.In 2018, the FBI was capable of recuperate the pair of slippers, which have been insured for $3.5 million, in keeping with federal prosecutors.The person accused of stealing the footwear, 76-year-old Terry Jon Martin, plans to plead responsible within the 18-year-long case.

A person charged with the museum heist of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland within the “The Wizard of Oz” was anticipated to alter his plea to responsible in courtroom Friday, pulling again the curtain on a whodunit thriller relationship again 18 years.

Terry Jon Martin, 76, was indicted in Might on one rely of theft of a significant paintings. The footwear from the movie have been stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum within the actress’ hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered in 2018 by the FBI.

Nobody was arrested till Martin, who lives close to Grand Rapids, was charged this yr. Martin’s lawyer, Dane DeKrey, stated his shopper, who’s ill, has been cooperative with him, if not with authorities.

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MINNESOTA MAN CHARGED WITH STEALING RUBY RED ‘WIZARD OF OZ’ SLIPPERS WORN BY JUDY GARLAND

“I believe Terry is going through his personal mortality, and I believe when individuals are reaching that time of their life, they reduce by the pleasantries and discuss turkey,” DeKrey stated in an interview forward of Friday’s listening to.

The one-page indictment gave no particulars of the trail that led investigators to Martin, who has a 1988 conviction for receiving stolen items on his report and is free on his personal recognizance. A lot of the federal government’s proof has been coated by a protecting order prohibiting its public disclosure.

Garland wore a number of pairs of ruby slippers throughout filming of the traditional 1939 musical, however solely 4 genuine pairs are identified to stay. The slippers have been insured for $1 million, however federal prosecutors put the present market worth at about $3.5 million after they introduced the indictment.

A pair of ruby slippers as soon as worn by actress Judy Garland within the “The Wizard of Oz” sit on show at a information convention on Sept. 4, 2018, on the FBI workplace in Brooklyn Heart, Minnesota. ( )

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The FBI stated a person approached the insurer in 2017 and stated he may assist get them again. The slippers have been recovered in an FBI artwork crime group sting operation in Minneapolis. They remained within the bureau’s custody.

The plea settlement was “fulsomely negotiated” between DeKrey and federal prosecutor Matt Greenley and would lay out the “factual foundation” for his shopper’s responsible plea, DeKrey stated.

DeKrey expects U.S. District Choose Patrick Schiltz, the chief federal decide for Minnesota, to set a sentencing date round three months out. He declined to say what the 2 sides are recommending for a sentence, however famous the nonbinding federal sentencing tips have really useful eight to 10 years in comparable instances.

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DeKrey stated he was grateful Schiltz agreed to carry the listening to in Duluth as an alternative of creating Martin journey to the Twin Cities.

STOLEN RUBY SLIPPERS FROM ‘WIZARD OF OZ’ RECOVERED, FBI SAYS

“My shopper is a sick man. He’s going to be on oxygen, and he’s going to be in a wheelchair,” DeKrey stated.

The slippers in query have been on mortgage to the museum from Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw when somebody climbed by a window and broke the show case. Three different pairs that Garland wore within the film are held by the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences, the Smithsonian Museum of American Historical past and a non-public collector.

A number of rewards have been supplied through the years in hopes of cracking the thriller. An nameless donor from Arizona put up $1 million in 2015.

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The ruby slippers have been key props within the 1939 film. Following a mysterious touchdown within the colourful Land of Oz after a twister hits her farm in Kansas, Garland’s character, Dorothy, has to click on the heels of her slippers thrice and repeat “there’s no place like dwelling” to return.

The slippers are made out of a few dozen completely different supplies, together with wooden pulp, silk thread, gelatin, plastic and glass. A lot of the ruby shade comes from sequins, however the bows of the footwear comprise pink glass beads.

Garland was born Frances Gumm in 1922. She lived in Grand Rapids, about 200 miles north of Minneapolis, till she was 4, when her household moved to Los Angeles. She died of a barbiturate overdose in 1969.

The Judy Garland Museum, which opened in 1975 in the home the place she lived, says it has the world’s largest assortment of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

Man accused of stealing ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers from Minnesota museum to plead responsible

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