Anonymous Donor Offers $1M to Finder of Stolen Ruby Red Slippers from ‘Wizard of Oz’
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn., July 13, 2015 — (UPI) — A “Wizard of Oz” staple has been stolen since 2005 and now an anonymous donor wants to give anyone with information about the perpetrator, $1 million.
The ruby red slippers Judy Garland wore in 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz” is the item in question. Police say on Aug. 28, 2005, the pair of iconic shoes were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn. The glass case that held the shoes was smashed in by a baseball bat and nothing else was stolen at the time the crime was committed.
The museum’s executive director, John Kelsch, revealed that the cash offer requires the location of the slippers and the name of the person/persons who committed the act, E! News reports. The donor is a big fan of the actress and the movie.
Kelsch told WFLA, “They’re a premiere symbol of Americana and we’re just hoping that they can be recovered for future generations to enjoy. ”
The shoes were once insured for $1 million, but could now be worth about $2 to $3 million, the museum reported.
