"Dying Thief Spared Jail Time for Stealing 'Wizard of Oz' Ruby Slippers"

Terry Jon Martin, the man who stole the iconic ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz," has been sentenced to time served, one year of supervised release, and $23,000 in restitution to the Judy Garland Children's Museum. The 76-year-old, who stole the slippers in 2005 and was not charged until last year, pleaded guilty to using a hammer to steal them. Due to his poor health, prosecutors recommended time served for his sentencing. Martin is currently in hospice care with advanced COPD and likely has less than six months to live. The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018 and returned them to the owner, and researchers at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History helped authenticate them.