A thief concerned with the stolen ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” has died earlier than going to trial.
Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, of Crystal, Minnesota was resulting from plead responsible in January, however his listening to was postponed indefinitely due to main well being situations, together with lung harm, sepsis and Parkinson’s illness.
Saliterman died Sunday, federal prosecutor Matthew Greenley notified the court docket in a one-page movement Monday that didn’t give additional element.
Choose Patrick Schiltz granted the request to drop the fees of theft of a serious paintings and witness tampering.
Saliterman was already in a wheelchair and on oxygen final March when he was charged for his position in stealing the conic sequined crimson slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids in 2005.
Terry Jon Martin, now 78, of Grand Rapids, who pleaded responsible in 2023 to utilizing a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and show case to steal them — assuming they have been addorned with actual rubies.
When he realized they have been pretend, he handed the slippers to Saltiman, who helped hold them hidden for practically 13 years till the FBI recovered them in 2018. They fetched a file for film memorabilia of $32.5 million in December, in response to Heritage Auctions.
Protection lawyer John Brink confirmed Monday that his consumer had died however declined to provide particulars.
With Put up wires
