The case of the missing Wizard of Oz ruby slippers has ended abruptly. Jerry Hal Salitermann, 77, one of two men accused of stealing the iconic slippers nearly two decades ago, died March 16 following a January hospitalization,

A federal judge has dismissed the charges against a Minnesota man accused of hiding a stolen pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in "The Wizard of Oz." Prosecutors informed the court Monday that he died Sunday.

Jerry Hal Saliterman was allegedly involved in the theft of one of Judy Garland's ruby slippers from a museum in 2005. Prosecutors say he died Sunday.