Shivangi Sinha
The first real break in the case of the stolen ruby slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, came from a tip by Michael Insabella. A retired Secret Service agent, Michael, contacted the police in 2010, claiming he knew the whereabouts of the iconic shoes and was acting as a negotiator on behalf of another party. This lead proved pivotal, setting the investigation on a new course. Hulu’s ‘Ruby Red Handed: Stealing America’s Most Famous Pair of Shoes’ highlights this moment and illustrates how Insabella’s involvement helped authorities piece together the mystery of the missing slippers.
Michael Insabella Was a Trusted and Recognized Special Agent
Michael Rocco Insabella, born on August 5, 1947, was very much a man of his times. Raised in Newark, New Jersey, by his parents, Orazio “Harry” Insabella and Rosaria “Sally” Abbate, he grew up alongside his siblings, Harry and Judy, in a family deeply rooted in duty and hard work. His Italian-American mother worked for the Postal Service, while his father served as a Navy Seabee and worked as a boilermaker. Michael attended Saint Joseph College Preparatory School and graduated in 1965. A talented and dependable young man, he played both the piano and accordion and was known as a loyal friend. He also had a love for the outdoors and often spent his free time fishing, snorkeling, and diving whenever the opportunity arose.
After finishing school, Michael attended Biscayne College in Miami, where he pursued a degree in Political Science. It was there that he met his first wife, Toni, and together they began building their life. The couple had four children: daughters Annamarie Insabella Schaeffer, Andria Insabella Keene, Angela Insabella Dean, and a son, Michael A. Insabella. His career thrived alongside his growing family. Michael began as a patrol officer with the North Miami Beach Police Department before being hired in 1971 as a Special Agent with the Miami Field Office of the US Secret Service. Over the course of his distinguished career, he served on the White House detail and provided protection to three US Presidents during his tenure.
Michael Insabella Started a Security Firm After Leaving His Position in the Secret Service
Michael Insabella also served as a Special Agent in Miami, Florida, and Washington, D.C. and took on numerous high-profile assignments. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, he worked undercover investigating counterfeit currency operations. He later acted as the chief liaison between the Secret Service and the FBI on both foreign and domestic terrorism cases and collaborated with Sandia National Laboratories on matters related to the Strategic Defense Initiative. His work required and earned him top-secret security clearance, including compartmentalized clearance above top secret. In 1994, Michael founded MRI Associates, a private security consulting firm. Following his retirement from government service, he was hired as the Director of Executive Protection for Office Depot, where he oversaw security planning for the company’s Chairman and CEO.
In 1998, Michael faced one of the most challenging moments of his life when he lost his wife of 23 years. The loss deeply affected him despite his reputation as a strong and dependable person. Nearly two decades later, on July 11, 2017, he contacted the police with a crucial lead in the case of the stolen ruby slippers. He informed them that criminal defense attorney Joe Friedberg had possession of the shoes and wished to return them, acting as a negotiator on his behalf. After verifying Michael’s background and finding nothing suspicious, authorities concluded he was simply assisting an acquaintance. His tip ultimately led to the recovery of the iconic slippers and the arrest of Terry Martin, bringing closure to a case that had baffled investigators for years.
Michael Insabella Passed Away Soon After Taking a Family Vacation
Michael found love again in 2017 when he married Marion Calbough and started a new and joyful chapter in his life. Together, they traveled extensively, visiting Europe, taking cruises, and cherishing time spent with their children and grandchildren. In 2022, he enjoyed a memorable Caribbean adventure surrounded by many friends and family, a trip that reflected the fullness of his later years. Not long after, on July 31, 2022, Michael passed away peacefully, just five days shy of his 75th birthday. His loved ones gathered to celebrate his remarkable life, which was defined by service, resilience, and devotion to those he cared for most.
Read More: Terry Jon Martin: Where is the Ruby Slippers Thief Now?
