A second man has been charged in connection with the infamous 2005 theft of the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz.” Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Hennepin County, Minn., was charged with theft of major artwork and witness tampering after allegedly threatening to release a sex tape of a woman if she spoke to authorities about the theft.
The ruby slippers, one of several pairs worn by Garland in the iconic film, were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn., in 2005. The whereabouts of the slippers remained a mystery until 2018 when the FBI announced they had been recovered.
According to court records, Saliterman is accused of receiving, concealing, and disposing of the stolen ruby slippers between 2005 and 2018. Additionally, he allegedly attempted to intimidate a woman by threatening to release a sex tape of her if she spoke to the FBI about the theft.
Saliterman appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Paul on Friday but did not enter a plea. He was released on his own recognizance and was seen leaving the courthouse in a wheelchair with a portable breathing machine.
It is unclear if any further arrests are expected in connection with the theft. Saliterman has a history of criminal charges, including fraud, theft, and shoplifting. He was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1988 for conspiracy to defraud the federal government and credit card fraud.
The first man charged in the case, Terry Martin, pleaded guilty in 2023 to theft of major artwork and was sentenced to one year of supervised release. Martin, who is in hospice care due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was spared prison time and ordered to pay restitution to the Judy Garland Museum.
Saliterman’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and prosecutors declined to comment on the case while it is pending. The investigation into the theft of the ruby slippers continues as the legal proceedings unfold.
