‘There’s No Place Like Home:’ FBI Special Agent Dudley ’96 Assists in Return of Iconic Ruby Slippers to Rightful Owner
The Minneapolis FBI and Grand Rapids Police Department announced on March 18, 2024, that a pair of ruby slippers featured in the classic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” and stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005, was returned to the rightful owner, collector Michael Shaw.
Special Agent Christopher Dudley ’96 of FBI Minneapolis and Grand Rapids Police Department Chief Andy Morgan dedicated countless hours to the case and ensured the safe return of the iconic slippers. Dudley surprised Shaw by not only returning the ruby slippers but also presenting him with the single red sequin that was left at the scene of the crime almost 20 years ago.
“It was incredibly rewarding and fitting to see Mr. Shaw reunited with the ruby slippers at Judy Garland’s home [the Judy Garland Museum], accompanied by his friends on the museum staff,” Dudley said. “It is a privilege for the FBI and our Art Crime Team to work alongside law enforcement partners who truly value the importance of protecting our nation’s cultural heritage.”
Judy Garland immortalized as Dorothy Gale in the beloved movie danced her way down the yellow brick road in several pairs of red slippers during the film’s production. Garland’s portrayal of Dorothy and her magical journey down the yellow brick road has captivated audiences for generations, making the ruby slippers an enduring symbol of American film history.
These sequined shoes, known as the “traveling pair,” were one of the last remaining sets used in the 1939 film, and their disappearance in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum, which was her childhood home, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, left a void in both cinema history and the heart of a community proud to call itself Garland’s birthplace.
The return ceremony, held at the Judy Garland Museum, was a restoration of justice, healing the wounds inflicted on both Shaw and the museum itself. “The Judy Garland Museum survived the impact of this violation and is grateful to be a part of the homecoming,” said John Kelsh, founding director of the Judy Garland Museum. “We continue to serve visitors from around the world; expect a Ruby Slipper Crime exhibit in our future.”
During the ceremony, in Garland’s childhood home, the iconic ruby slippers were placed on their original pedestal, reclaiming not just an artifact but rekindling the museum’s identity as a guardian of Garland’s legacy. When Shaw, accompanied by his niece, laid eyes on the slippers for the first time in nearly two decades, he likened the experience to a heartfelt reunion with a long-lost friend.
“We are incredibly honored to return the ruby slippers to their rightful owner,” said Alvin M. Winston Sr., special agent in charge of the Minneapolis Division of the FBI. “Beyond the glittering allure of the shoes lies a testament to the FBI’s unyielding commitment to preserving the everlasting legacy of cherished memorabilia. This piece of cinematic history has been returned to Mr. Shaw through the diligent efforts of our dedicated agents, professional staff, and invaluable partners.”
“Recognizing the catastrophic loss to both Mr. Shaw and the countless fans of this piece of American cinema history, the Grand Rapids Police Department is extremely pleased that the slippers have been returned to Mr. Shaw,” said Chief of Police Andy Morgan of Grand Rapids Police Department. “The collaboration between all partnering agencies cannot be overlooked or minimized. The countless hours of dedicated investigative efforts by current GRPD staff, retired staff, our partners at the FBI and the many other assisting agencies made the return possible.”
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