The theft of Judy Garland‘s iconic ruby slippers she wore in The Wizard of Oz is one of Hollywood’s most notorious events. These renowned shoes, worn by the actress as Dorothy in the 1939 film, were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in August 2005. The heist remained a mystery until September 2018, when the FBI announced a breakthrough in the case, disclosing that the stolen slippers had been recovered during a sting operation in Minneapolis.
Following the return of the prized memorabilia to the Judy Garland Museum, law enforcement officers have since arrested the perpetrator, Terry Jon Martin. Terry, who pleaded guilty to the theft, recently disclosed the motivation behind the audacious heist.
The reformed mobster says he stole the Judy Garland slippers to get “one last score”
During his initial court appearance, Martin admitted to unlawfully entering the museum and absconding with the footwear, driven by the misguided belief instilled by a former mob associate that the renowned shoes were embellished with genuine jewels.