A federal judge dismissed charges on Monday against a Minnesota man accused of hiding stolen ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” after prosecutors informed the court of his death. Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, had been in poor health and scheduled to change his plea to guilty in January. The slippers were stolen in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, later fetching $32.5 million at auction. Terry Jon Martin stole the slippers and sold them to Saliterman, who passed away recently.
Martin used a hammer to steal the slippers, believing they were worth $1 million due to the rumor that they were adorned with real jewels. He pleaded guilty in 2023 and was sentenced to time served due to his poor health. Garland, born Frances Gumm, lived in Grand Rapids, where the slippers were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum. Despite efforts to buy them back, only three pairs of the iconic ruby slippers remain.
St. Paul is gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day, with celebrations and events planned for the holiday. A federal study revealing that only 11% of oil clean-up technology is truly reliable has sparked concerns among environmental groups. Meanwhile, a man was sentenced to prison for attacking a woman with a hammer in a gruesome assault captured on video. These headlines are keeping the community informed and engaged.
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