A second man, Jerry Hal Saliterman, has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz." The slippers were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, nearly 20 years ago and remained missing until the FBI recovered them in 2018. Saliterman, 76, was charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering. During his first appearance in court, Saliterman, who was in a wheelchair and on supplemental oxygen, did not enter a plea and his attorney stated that he is not guilty.

The man who initially stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, pleaded guilty to theft of a major artwork and was sentenced to time served due to poor health. Martin admitted to using a hammer to break into the museum and steal the slippers in an attempt to pull off "one last score." He had hoped to sell what he believed were real rubies from the shoes, but later found out they were not authentic. Martin's former associate with connections to the mob had persuaded him to steal the slippers, despite Martin having turned away from a life of crime.

The court documents unsealed on Sunday do not indicate how Martin and Saliterman may have been connected. The FBI recovered the slippers in a sting operation in Minneapolis after a man approached the insurer in 2017 claiming he could help recover them for a higher reward. The slippers, with a market value of about $3.5 million, are now in the possession of Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, who plans to sell them through an auction house.

The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids boasts the largest collection of Garland and "Wizard of Oz" memorabilia, including the stolen ruby slippers. Garland, born Frances Gumm in 1922, lived in Grand Rapids until she was 4 years old before moving to Los Angeles. She passed away in 1969, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hollywood's most iconic actresses.