Tennessee investigators now allege that Sheriff Buford Pusser, the famed lawman who inspired the Walking Tall films, murdered his wife Pauline nearly 60 years ago.
On Aug. 12, 1967, Pusser claimed that he and his wife were ambushed while driving, with gunfire striking their car. A bullet killed Pauline instantly, while Pusser was shot in the face but survived. For decades, his version of events was widely accepted and dramatized in books and films.
New Evidence Contradicts Sheriff’s Story
But a cold case review opened in 2022 has cast doubt on Pusser’s account. On Friday, District Attorney Mark Davidson announced that forensic evidence contradicts the former sheriff’s statement.
“The events did not occur as stated by Buford Pusser, and that Pauline Pusser was more likely than not shot outside the vehicle and then placed inside,” Davidson said. He added that blood spatter on the hood of the car conflicted with Pusser’s description and that Pusser’s own cheek wound appeared self-inflicted.
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Case File and Exhumation
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reopened the case as part of a review of cold cases. Investigators examined a 1,000-page file and exhumed Pauline’s body in 2024.
TBI Director David Rausch confirmed the new findings, pointing to ballistic, medical, and forensic inconsistencies. Medical examiner Dr. Michael Revelle concluded that Pauline’s head wound did not match crime scene photos of the car’s interior.
Family Reactions
Pauline’s brother, Griffon Mullins, said the findings reinforced his long-held concerns about her marriage. “I knew, deep down, there was problems in her marriage. If I only known now what I knew then, she would have never went back to Tennessee,” Mullins said.
But Pusser’s granddaughter, Madison Garrison Bush, criticized the renewed investigation. “A dead man, who cannot defend himself, is being accused of an unspeakable crime. I don’t understand what justice can be accomplished by pursuing this theory,” she said in a statement.
A Tarnished Legacy
Sheriff Buford Pusser became a folk hero in Tennessee for his crackdowns on organized crime in McNairy County. His story was dramatized in the Walking Tall films and cemented in American pop culture as that of a fearless lawman.
The new evidence, however, paints a darker picture of his personal life, raising questions about one of Tennessee’s most famous legends.
