[Legal Question]

Self ^ | 13JUL18 | Bikkuri

[Bikkuri]

I just finished watching Expedition Unknown; it was about a pair of ruby slippers worn in the 1939 movie, "The Wizard of Oz" that was stolen in 2005 (I think), in Grand Rapids Minn.

It was said that the statute of Limitations was already up...

[Bikkuri]

At the end of the show, the detective doing the case said that an anonymous email was sent to him of the slippers, including photos, and that the person was asking for ransom to get the slippers back.

Then it occurred to me that the statute of limitations was up, and the shoes could be turned in without fear of charges.... BUT, this is different since the anon person is asking for ransom ... o.O THAT would make a totally different criminal case, wouldn't it?

I was a deputy up until 1998 when I came here.. but I had never experienced anything similar to this, so, I am a bit puzzled :p

[SauronOfMordor]

Although the statute of limitations is up, the slippers remain stolen property, and so cannot be sold with clear title. Now, if the person had phrased it as a request for reward, or finders fee, then that might be different.

[birdsman]

Now you tell me! Is it to late to change my note?

[Yo-Yo]

I thought the ruby slippers were in the Smithsonian Museum of American History in DC?

http://americanhistory.si.edu/press/fact-sheets/ruby-slippers

[Sasparilla]

Yo-Yo, there were 4 pair made for the movie. 1 pair was stolen.

[a fool in paradise]

Weren’t they in the Smithsonian at one point? was this another pair of slippers allegedly from the film?

I seem to recall $35k spent on “restoring” (recrafting) “the” shoes.

[Larry Lucido]

I have the ruby slipper AND the Ruby gun!

[Delta 21]

To answer your question, YES. You can wear them in public now.

[rstrahan]

Not necessarily statute of limitations. Remember that stolen art is being recovered and returned decades after the theft, and not only Nazi theft.

[dware]

But did he find the stolen pair on Expedition Unknown?

[Bikkuri]

From what the program said, there are a total of 4 pair(s)... I think the one in the Smithsonian is #3.

[Bikkuri]

Thank you for saying “pair”.. I thought I was the only one left in the world that still said that (when I hear pairs, I cringe.. but different dialects, I guess :p).

[Bikkuri]

But did he find the stolen pair on Expedition Unknown?

Near the end of that program, they 'found' exactly what was described in 2 cases (that the shoes were put into a 'paint can', filled with rocks, and thrown into some water pit).

BUT, the first was a different water pit, and nothing was found.. the second, given by a CI that happened to be in jail, gave the same info in a different pit, which they called lakes >.< ..

They found a paint can in the second pit.. filled with rocks (and white paint).. it fit too much to the story, so I am wondering if that was staged for the program :p

The last part, the one with the email, seemed real enough.. that is why I posted this question..

[Bikkuri]

See Post 5 and Post 11

[Bikkuri]

So, do you have any idea how this would/could be handled?

[Bikkuri]

The question wasn’t about whether he could wear them... it was about the ransom... If the thief chose to wear them (and make it public), it would now be a civil matter..

[Bikkuri]

I lost all evidence and the related guns in the Rio Grande River when my Kayak capsized...

OH.. and all evidence too.. burned, on accident, when I was trying to make a bonfire >.<

[Larry Lucido]

Statue of limitations.

[SaveFerris]

[To answer your question, YES. You can wear them in public now.]

ROTFLOL

Hi Bikkuri! How ya doin’? Good to see ya.

[SaveFerris]

Yes! It’s a sculpture of limitations!