Terry J. Martin Charged in Relation to Theft of Dorothy's Ruby Slippers
A man has been charged in relation to the theft of Dorothy's ruby slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in 2017. Terry J. Martin, 57, was indicted by a grand jury on one count of felony theft.
The slippers, which were worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, were on display at the museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. On July 2, 2017, they were stolen in a brazen daylight robbery. Surveillance footage from the museum showed a man entering the building and taking the slippers. The man then fled the scene in a waiting car. The FBI launched an investigation into the theft and eventually identified Martin as a suspect. In 2018, Martin was arrested in Florida and charged with possession of stolen property. The slippers were not recovered during the arrest, but Martin is believed to have sold them to an unknown buyer.
Martin is scheduled to appear in court on June 13. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The theft of Dorothy's ruby slippers was a major blow to the Judy Garland Museum. The slippers were one of the museum's most popular exhibits and their loss was a major financial setback. The museum has since reopened, but the slippers have not been recovered. The FBI is still offering a reward for information leading to their return.
The theft of Dorothy's ruby slippers is a reminder of the importance of protecting cultural artifacts. These items are part of our shared history and their loss is a loss for all of us.