The iconic pair of slippers – one of four remaining pairs from the 1939 film production – were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018.

Terry J. Martin, a 76-year-old man who lives within 15 miles of the Minnesota museum, has now been arrested and charged in connection with the theft, the Star Tribune reports.

At the time of theft, the slippers were insured for $1 million but current fair market appraisal value the slippers at $3.5 million, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota.

Mr Martin will face trial on one charge of theft of major artwork.