Stolen ‘Wizard of Oz’ Ruby Slippers To Go On Tour, Then Be Auctioned

MINNESOTA –The famous “Wizard Of Oz” ruby slippers have been reunited with their owner, but will soon be on the auction block.

Jerry Saliterman (AP)

As first reported Sunday night, a second man was charged in the case Friday in Federal Court in St. Paul.  76-year-old Jerry Saliterman is accused of theft of a major artwork and witness tampering.

The indictment says that from shortly after the theft in 2005, until their discovery in 2018, Saliterman received, concealed, and disposed of the shoes.  His attorney said he’s not guilty.

Now that the famous footwear has quietly and briefly been returned to its owner, after being held by the FBI for six years.

In 2018 Judy Garland’s ruby slippers, which she made famous in “The Wizard of Oz” were recovered by the FBI 13 years after they were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids.

In a very low-key event at the museum last month, the shoes were returned to the owner, Michael Shaw.  He had loaned the slippers to be displayed at the museum.

In a photo of that event, released Monday by the FBI, Shaw is second from the left. Second from the right is Grand Rapids Police Chief Andy Morgan, who was a patrol officer with just four years on the job at the time of the theft.

The police chief said, “Mr. Shaw was extremely pleased, to say the least. To lose a piece of American history like that and then to come back in contact with them 15-plus years later. To say the least, he was extremely happy.”

The recovered ruby slippers were placed on the very pedestal from where they’d been stolen.

In January the man who admitted stealing the slippers by using a hammer, Terry John Martin, was sentenced in Federal Court to time served because of his poor health and was not sent to prison.

The man who co-founded the museum, John Kelsch talked with FOX 21 in January when Martin was sentenced.  Kelsch was glad the case had been solved after years of not knowing. The ordeal had taken a toll on him, the museum, and the community. “In regard to the rumors about being an inside job, that was the most hurtful, “said Kelsch

Where are the ruby slippers today?  They are being held by Heritage Auctions. That company will auction the slippers later.