There are several pairs of Dorothy's ruby slippers that still exist from the production of the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. You might recall that a pair had been stolen from a museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018. In 2023, 76-year-old Terry Martin was arrested for the theft. Now we have new details about Martin, such as why he stole the shoes. He thought they were encrusted with real rubies. An accomplice has now been arrested, and we learn more about what those shoes have been through- ultraviolet treatment, burial, and finally a return to their rightful owner. The story also involves a threat of revenge porn.
Also, we learn about the future plans for the shoes. After going on exhibit at various locations, they will be put up for auction in December. Of the half-dozen or so authentic ruby slippers, these are the ones with the most notorious history, and will probably fetch a pretty penny. Read what we know about the case by now at The History Blog. -via Strange Company
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