A new suspect has been charged in connection with the theft of the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” in 2005. The suspect attempted to use the sex tape to cover up the robbery.
Jerry Hull Saliterman, 76, is charged with witness tampering and theft of major art objects, according to a newly unsealed indictment from St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Crystal Resident said the iconic shoes Garland wore when she played Dorothy in the 1939 film were taken from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids by a thief who thought they were encrusted with real rubies. was arrested as. .
The scammer realized that it was actually coated with just glass beads and gave it to a colleague.
It remains unclear whether Saliterman was an associate, but the indictment alleges that between 2005 and 2018 he “received, concealed, and disposed of cultural heritage objects,” including ruby slippers. It is said that he mentioned it.
While in possession of the slippers, he allegedly used a sex tape of a woman who knew about the robbery to keep her quiet, promising to “take her home” if she spoke.
The elderly defendant did not make a statement in court Friday, but his lawyer denied the charges against him outside court.
“He’s innocent. He did nothing wrong,” said attorney John Brink.
Saliterman, who was in a wheelchair and could hear the sound of an oxygen machine helping him breathe throughout the proceedings, was released on his own recognizance and refused to answer questions from reporters.
Back in January, 76-year-old Terry John Martin was found guilty of smashing a slipper display case with a hammer nearly 20 years ago.
Martin, a former gangster, has retired from a life of crime, but a former colleague surmises that the slippers must contain real rubies because of their $1 million insured value, prompting his lawyer to call him the “final score.” I was seduced by the words that called me.
Martin’s lawyer said that during the mere 48 hours that Martin had the slippers in his possession, he realized the rubies were fake, gave them to a co-worker, the idea crossed his mind, and he never wore the slippers again. He was told that he did not want to see it.
Marin, who is also in a wheelchair and dependent on an oxygen inhaler, was spared a prison sentence because of his declining health, but had to pay $23,500 in restitution.
The judge said if Martin had been arrested 20 years ago, he would have sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
Judy Garland wore multiple pairs of ruby slippers while filming the movie, but only the remaining four pairs have been identified.
The pair stolen by Martin were recovered by the FBI and returned to the owner who had loaned them to the museum.
with post wire
