A reformed mobster, Terry Jon Martin, stole Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from a museum in 2005, hoping to extract real rubies from them.
He was led to believe the shoes were adorned with real jewels by an old mob associate.
Martin, in poor health and nearing the end of his life, pleaded guilty and is recommended for a lenient sentence.
His defense attorney highlighted his difficult life, including mistreatment by a stepmother and personal tragedies.
The slippers were insured for $1 million, but their current market value is estimated at $3.5 million.
“At first, Terry declined the invitation to participate in the heist. But old habits die hard, and the thought of a ‘final score’ kept him up at night,” attorney Dane DeKrey wrote.
“After much contemplation, Terry had a criminal relapse and decided to participate in the theft.”
“This was truly the turning point in Terry’s life — his villain origin story — and the reason he not only went down his dark path but accelerated towards it,” DeKrey wrote. “His son said it best: ‘the twins’ death made (my dad) just give up on life; he decided on a life of crime.’”
The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018, and they remain in custody.
Multiple rewards were offered for information on the theft, and the slippers are a significant part of Hollywood history.
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