A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in 'The Wizard of Oz,' according to an indictment made public Sunday.
Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Crystal, Minnesota, was charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering. The slippers, adorned with sequins and glass beads, were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, nearly 20 years ago. The FBI recovered them in 2018.
The indictment alleges that Saliterman received, concealed, and disposed of the stolen ruby slippers and threatened a woman with releasing a sex tape if she spoke about the slippers.
Saliterman appeared in court in a wheelchair and on supplemental oxygen. His attorney stated that he is not guilty. The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, pleaded guilty in October and was sentenced to time served due to poor health.
Martin's lawyer revealed that an old associate convinced him to steal the slippers, believing they were adorned with real jewels. However, the rubies turned out to be fake, and Martin got rid of the slippers.
The recovered slippers are valued at about $3.5 million. Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw had loaned the pair to the museum before they were stolen. The slippers are now with an auction house for sale.
The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids boasts the world's largest collection of Garland and 'Wizard of Oz' memorabilia.
