Tennessee Authorities Say New Evidence Implicates Late Sheriff Buford Pusser in 1967 Wife Murder

New evidence has emerged indicating that Buford Pusser, the Tennessee sheriff famously portrayed in the movie "Walking Tall," was likely responsible for the death of his wife, Pauline Mullins Pusser, in 1967. Authorities, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney Mark Davidson, found inconsistencies between Pusser's account of an ambush by unknown assailants and physical, forensic, and ballistic evidence, suggesting the crime scene was staged. Investigators believe Pauline was shot outside the vehicle and then placed inside, contradicting the long-held narrative of an attack targeting Pusser himself. An autopsy performed after exhumation revealed wounds inconsistent with Pusser's story, including a close-contact gunshot wound to his cheek rather than a long-range shot. If Pusser were alive today, prosecutors would likely seek an indictment for murder based on the probable cause developed. Authorities emphasize that the investigation aims to provide justice and closure to Pauline and her family, not to diminish Pusser's legendary status.