In the witching hour (when else?) of Saturday night, March 3rd, a dashing trio of thieves purloined a $2,500 replica pair of ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz on display at the Staten Island Hilton hotel. The woman seen in the hotel's surveillance footage has now been identified as 38-year-old Julie Walker Merkle. She, along with 59-year-old Joseph Cipoletti, have been charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and criminal mischief in the theft of the shoes. A third party, 57-year-old Ronald Geraghty, was also charged with grand larceny.
The criminal complaint alleges that Merkle and Cipoletti opened the case and removed the slippers while Geraghty kept lookout. SI Live is reporting that they couple simply wanted to "go dancing in style" at the hotel's rooftop lounge, despite leaving the location with the slippers. The couple turned themselves into police on Friday, after Merkle's father returned the slippers to the Hilton.
"This is truly a case of people trying to pull a prank, who certainly did not have larceny in their hearts," Mario Galluci, the defense attorney for Merkle and Cipoletti, said. “I believe that they thought it would be quite amusing to dance with the ruby slippers at Above," the rooftop bar at the hotel. They were unable to gain access to Above without a hotel room key.
Richard Nicotra, owner of both the Staten Island Hilton and the slippers, has claimed that one of the slipper's bow has been broken off and damaged. All three are due back in court on May 16th.
Nicotra said that he was "just happy that I got my shoes back and I can put them on display,” before reportedly closing his eyes, whispering something quietly to himself, and tapping his heels together three times.
