The thief involved in Judi Garland, a stolen ruby slipper, wore it in “The Wizard of Oz.” He died before he went to court.
Jerry Hal Salitalman, 77, of Crystal, Minnesota, was scheduled to plead guilty in January, but his hearing was postponed indefinitely due to major health conditions, including lung damage, sepsis and Parkinson's disease.
Salitalman passed away Sunday, and federal prosecutor Matthew Greenley notified the court on Monday in a one-page motion.
Judge Patrick Schiltz has granted his request to drop the charges of theft of key artwork and tampering with witnesses.
Saliterman was in oxygen in a wheelchair last March when he was accused of stealing red cone sequin slippers from the Judi Garland Museum in his hometown of Grand Rapids in 2005.
Terry John Martin, now 78, of Grand Rapids, pleaded guilty in 2023 to smash the glass on museum doors using a hammer and steal them.
When he realized they were fake, he handed the slippers to Saltiman. Saltimann left him in hidden for nearly 13 years until the FBI recovered in 2018.
Defense attorney John Brink confirmed that his client died on Monday but refused to give details.
With post wire
