The Man Who Stole the Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers Spared Jail
Terry Jon Martin, a terminally ill man who confessed to stealing Judy Garland’s iconic ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” has avoided imprisonment after a Minnesota court delivered a lenient sentence.
Martin, 76, admitted to the theft of the renowned footwear in October, pleading guilty to the felony charge of stealing a major artwork. Despite his criminal history, Martin’s defence team negotiated a plea deal for time served, emphasising his deteriorating health and short life expectancy.
During the sentencing in Duluth, Minnesota, Martin, a former mobster, remained impassive. His lawyers revealed that he is under hospice care, with only six months to live. This revelation played a significant role in the decision to spare him a custodial sentence.
The infamous theft occurred in 2005 when Martin, prompted by a former mob associate, broke into the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Martin, driven by the allure of a final heist, smashed museum doors and display cases to seize the ruby slippers, insured for $1 million.
In a plea for leniency, Martin’s defence attorney highlighted his client’s decade-long absence from criminal activity following his release from prison. However, Martin succumbed to temptation when the prospect of the valuable slippers arose, succumbing to his criminal instincts.
Despite his involvement, Martin claimed ignorance of the slippers’ cultural significance and attempted to sell the gems, only to discover they were made of glass. Thirteen years later, an FBI art crime team recovered the slippers in a sting operation, leading to Martin’s arrest.
The stolen ruby slippers, an iconic symbol of Hollywood history, have a storied legacy, with at least five pairs worn by Judy Garland during the film’s production. Martin’s involvement in their theft adds another chapter to their tumultuous journey through time.
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