76-Year-Old American Admits to Stealing "The Wizard of Oz" Ruby Slippers 18 Years Ago

In the movie "The Wizard of Oz," the female lead possesses a pair of ruby slippers that grant her mysterious powers, enabling her to evade attacks from wicked witches and safely find her way home, leaving a lasting impression on fans.

Though they were just props, these iconic ruby slippers sparked desire in the hearts of some. According to a report from Agence France-Presse, a 76-year-old man from the United States confessed in a Minnesota courtroom to a crime he committed 18 years ago, admitting to stealing the famous "ruby slippers" from the classic Hollywood film "The Wizard of Oz."

The man, identified as Terry Martin, admitted in court that he had visited the Judy Garland Museum in 2005. Believing the slippers were crafted from genuine rubies, he used a hammer to break the glass case at the museum and stole the ruby slippers. Later, when he discovered that the slippers were, in fact, made of glass, he no longer desired them and managed to sell them on the black market.

In July 2018, the FBI recovered the stolen slippers during a sting operation, and after years of investigation, Martin was identified as the prime suspect. He faced theft charges in May of this year.

At the time of the theft, the slippers were insured for $1 million, and they are currently estimated to be worth around $3.5 million.

Apart from the stolen pair, there are three other identical pairs of ruby slippers used as props in the movie. These pairs are either on display in museums or held in private collections.