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

Terry Jon Martin, a dying thief, was sentenced to no prison time for stealing Judy Garland's ruby slippers from a museum in 2005. He confessed to the theft, revealing that he was persuaded by an old associate with mob ties to pull off "one last score." Martin, who is in hospice care and expected to die within six months, pleaded guilty to theft of a major artwork and is housebound due to health issues. Both sides recommended time served, and he was ordered to pay $23,500 in restitution to the museum. The slippers were recovered by the FBI in 2018, and their market value is estimated at about $3.5 million.