In a shocking turn of events, Terry Jon Martin, an aging reformed mobster, has admitted to stealing a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz." The theft occurred in 2005 at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the late actor's hometown. Martin's defense attorney recently revealed his motive for the heist in a new memo filed ahead of his upcoming sentencing.

According to the memo, an old mob associate convinced Martin that the ruby slippers must be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value. Tempted by the promise of "one last score," Martin succumbed to his criminal instincts and decided to participate in the theft. He used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum door and display case to take the slippers.

However, Martin's hopes of harvesting real rubies from the shoes were shattered when a fence informed him that the rubies were actually made of glass. Realizing the slippers held no value, Martin quickly got rid of them less than two days after the heist. It was not until 2018 that the FBI recovered the stolen slippers when someone else attempted to claim an insurance reward on them.

Despite the recovery of the slippers, Martin was not charged with stealing them until last year. He pleaded guilty in October and is set to be sentenced on January 29th in Duluth, Minnesota. Both his defense attorney and prosecutors are recommending a lenient sentence due to Martin's poor health and inability to pose a threat to society.

Martin, who is currently in hospice care with a life expectancy of less than six months, suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and requires oxygen at all times. During his most recent court appearance, he appeared in a wheelchair. Even if he were sentenced to prison, his deteriorating health might warrant a compassionate release.

It is revealed that Martin had no knowledge of the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never even seen the movie "The Wizard of Oz." Instead, his motive for the theft was driven by the desire for one last big score. Despite his criminal past, Martin's attorney argues that he had been a contributing member of society since being released from prison in 1996.

The defense attorney urges the judge to consider the major events in Martin's life when deciding on a sentence. Martin's troubled upbringing, including mistreatment by a cruel stepmother, led him down a dark path of drinking and stealing from a young age. Additionally, the tragic deaths of his girlfriend and their newborn twins, which occurred while he was in prison, further fueled his descent into a life of crime.

Martin's lawyer emphasizes that he had not committed any other crimes in nearly a decade before the theft of the slippers, nor in the years since then. He also points out that Martin did not attempt to claim a share of the insurance reward money when some of his former associates tried to collect it.

In the court filing, Martin's son describes his father as a good man with a good heart who has endured significant trauma in his life. He believes that some people are unable to recover from such trauma, leading them to turn to a life of crime. Martin's attorney concludes by stating that his client has made peace with his actions and is ready to accept whatever comes next.

The stolen ruby slippers, one of only four authentic pairs known to exist, were insured for $1 million. However, federal prosecutors now estimate their current market value to be around $3.5 million. The FBI has never disclosed how they tracked down the slippers, which remain in their custody. Three other pairs worn by Judy Garland in the movie are held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Smithsonian Museum of American History, and a private collector.

Over the years, several rewards were offered in hopes of solving the mystery of the stolen slippers, which played a pivotal role in the film. Garland's character, Dorothy, famously clicked the heels of the slippers three times while repeating the phrase, "There's no place like home," to return to Kansas. Garland, born Frances Gumm, lived in Grand Rapids until the age of four before her family moved to Los Angeles. She passed away in 1969.

The Judy Garland Museum, located in the house where she once lived, boasts the world's largest collection of Garland and "Wizard of Oz" memorabilia. Despite the recovery of the stolen slippers, the museum continues to preserve and showcase the legacy of the iconic actor.