Remember Sheriff Buford Pusser, the “Walking Tall” hero? Turns out, the legend had a dark side. A recently reopened cold case points to a shocking truth about his wife’s 1967 death, completely overturning decades of public belief. What really happened that fateful night and how will this change his legacy?
Decades after his legend was cemented by Hollywood, a shocking revelation has emerged regarding the iconic Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser. Investigators have now concluded that Pusser, celebrated for his relentless fight against organized crime, was responsible for the 1967 death of his wife, Pauline Mullins Pusser, a tragic event he long attributed to his enemies.
For generations, the narrative of Buford Pusser, famously portrayed in the “Walking Tall” movies, captivated audiences and inspired countless individuals to pursue careers in law enforcement. His image as a tough, uncompromising but fair lawman, a pillar of justice with zero tolerance for crime, became a cultural touchstone. However, new findings from a re-examined cold case fundamentally challenge this heroic legacy, painting a far darker picture of the man behind the badge.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) initiated a comprehensive review of Pauline Pusser’s death in 2022, treating it as part of their routine cold case investigations. This meticulous re-examination involved a deep dive into decades-old files, prompted by an awareness of inconsistencies that had lingered in the original hasty conclusion of the case.
Authorities, including District Attorney Mark Davidson, revealed that if Buford Pusser were alive today, there would be sufficient evidence to present an indictment to a grand jury for the murder of Pauline. The re-investigation meticulously uncovered substantial discrepancies between Pusser’s original account of the fatal shooting and newly analyzed physical evidence, leading to this profound shift in understanding the case.
Key to the new findings was the expert analysis by Dr. Michael Revelle, an emergency medicine physician and medical examiner. Dr. Revelle, after reviewing postmortem and crime scene photographs, notes from the original medical examiner, and Buford Pusser’s statements, concluded that Pauline was more likely shot outside the vehicle and then placed inside it, directly contradicting Pusser’s version of events.
Further forensic evidence bolstered these conclusions: cranial trauma suffered by Pauline did not align with the crime scene photographs of the car’s interior, and blood spatter on the hood of the car outside the vehicle starkly contradicted Pusser’s statements. Moreover, the gunshot wound on Buford Pusser’s cheek, which he claimed resulted from a long-range attack, was determined to be a close-contact wound, likely self-inflicted.
Beyond the immediate circumstances of her death, Pauline’s autopsy revealed a previously healed broken nose, and statements from individuals who knew her at the time supported the grim conclusion that she had been a victim of domestic violence. This tragic layer adds further complexity to the narrative of the celebrated sheriff, revealing a hidden side to his personal life.
Pauline’s younger brother, Griffon Mullins, expressed profound relief and closure, acknowledging that the investigation finally provided answers that their family had sought for decades. The TBI plans to make the entire 1,000-plus-page case file publicly accessible through an online, searchable database at the University of Tennessee at Martin, ensuring transparency and historical preservation for this pivotal Tennessee true crime case.
