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.