In a stunning turn of events, the long-standing mystery surrounding the theft of Judy Garland’s iconic ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz has been resolved. After years of speculation and investigation, Terry Jon Martin, a former mobster, has confessed to the infamous 2005 theft from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Martin’s confession comes as he lies in hospice care, in what his attorney, Dane DeKrey, describes as his final days. According to DeKrey, Martin’s decision to come clean about the theft was driven by a desire to clear his conscience before passing away. “He wants to come clean to clear his conscience before he dies,” DeKrey stated. “He’s very sick. I think when you are seeing your own mortality you are more willing to speak.”
Martin’s admission reveals that the theft of the ruby slippers was his final “big score” after a lifetime of crime. Martin revealed that he had never even seen the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and was unaware of the symbolic significance of the stolen slippers. He had believed the shoes were made with real rubies, rather than glass.
Despite the misconception about the slippers’ material, Martin’s theft was not without motive. The ruby slippers, though not made with real rubies, hold significant value due to their association with the beloved film. In fact, one of the four remaining pairs of ruby slippers sold for a staggering $2 million.
As Martin’s confession brings closure to the long-standing mystery, attention now turns to his fate. His lawyer expressed hope that the judge would agree with their joint recommendation for no further prison time for Martin. Instead, the plan is to allow him to spend his remaining days with his wife at their cabin in Minnesota's Northwoods.
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With Terry Jon Martin’s confession, the decades-long mystery of the stolen ruby slippers had finally been solved. While we now know what happened, the legend of these iconic shoes and their storied history continues to captivate audiences around the world.
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