Judy Garland and Ray Bolger in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Photo:Mgm/Kobal/Shutterstock
Mgm/Kobal/Shutterstock
On Sunday, theAssociated Pressreported that Terry Jon Martin, stole the slippers from Minnesota’sJudy Garland Museumin 2005 after an unidentified former mob associate encouraged him to commit “one last score” with the theft and told him the shoes were adorned with real jewels.
The man’s defense attorney, Dane DeKrey, wrote in a new memo ahead of Martin’s expected Jan. 29 sentencing hearing that Martin initially “declined the invitation to participate” in the 2005 heist. He had previously been convicted in 1988 on a felony charge of receiving stolen goods and had not committed a crime since his 1996 release from prison, per the AP.
“But old habits die hard, and the thought of a ‘final score’ kept him up at night,” the defense attorney wrote, per the AP. “After much contemplation, Terry had a criminal relapse and decided to participate in the theft.”
Terry Jon Martin (center) on Oct. 13, 2023.Dan Kraker/Minnesota Public Radio via AP
Dan Kraker/Minnesota Public Radio via AP
When Martin pleaded guilty in October, he said he wanted to sell rubies from the glass slippers — one of four known authentic pairs of the shoes Garland wore inThe Wizard of Oz —after he smashed a museum door and display case during the theft. Martin testified that he disposed of the slippers fewer than two days after stealing them, once he was informed the rubies were made of glass, per the AP. Martin was not familiar with their cultural significance and had never seenThe Wizard of Ozprior to the theft, the outlet reported.
At the time the slippers were stolen, they were insured for $1 million. The North Dakota U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote in an October press release that the shoes are currently valued at $3.5 million.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The slippers' whereabouts were unknown until 2017, when Grand Rapids, Minnesota police began coordinating with the FBI on the case. The FBI announced via apress releasethat its agents had recovered the slippers in Minneapolis in September 2018 while investigating a scheme to defraud and extort the Markel Corporation, which owns the slippers. The Judy Garland Museum was exhibiting the slippers on loan at the time of the 2005 theft, asCBSreported in 2018.
Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Judy Garland and Bert Lahr in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Per the AP, both Martin’s defense attorney and prosecutors are recommending that Martin be sentenced to time served for the crime because he is in hospice care. His life expectancy is fewer than six months, uses an oxygen tank at all times and was in a wheelchair at his most recent court appearance, the outlet reported.
Martin’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29.
source: people.com
