Tennessee Bureau Finds Likely Cause in 1967 Pauline Pusser Murder

A decades-old investigation into the 1967 murder of Pauline Mullins Pusser, wife of legendary McNairy County Sheriff Buford Pusser, has concluded with findings that challenge the long-held narrative of the case. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and local prosecutors revealed that Pauline was likely shot outside the vehicle and then placed inside, contradicting Buford Pusser's original claim of an ambush attack while driving. The sheriff's own gunshot wound was likely self-inflicted, further undermining his account. Investigators determined that significant inconsistencies and new forensic evidence, including autopsy results and blood spatter analysis, indicate that Pusser may have been responsible for his wife's death, and an indictment could be pursued if he were alive today. This revelation has sparked debate among historians and the local community, with some defending Pusser's version and others convinced he concealed the truth. The findings bring a new perspective to a notorious cold case that inspired the film "Walking Tall," potentially altering the legacy of the famed lawman.