It was long believed that Pauline Mullins Pusser, the wife of the legendary Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser, was shot and killed in an ambush meant for her husband, but new evidence suggests that it was the late sheriff who killed his wife.
A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation report uncovered “inconsistencies in Buford Pusser’s statements to law enforcement and to others,” District Attorney Mark Davidson said at a press conference Friday.
Law enforcement uncovered physical, medical, forensic, ballistic and reenactment evidence that contradicted the McNairy County sheriff’s account of his wife’s 1967 murder.
The sheriff’s story inspired the movie “Walking Tall” in 1973 and several sequels, a 2004 remake and several books, Davidson said.
Buford Pusser died in a car accident in 1974.
“This case is not about tearing down a legend, it is about giving dignity and closure to Pauline and her family and ensuring that the truth is not buried with time,” Davidson said.
@Stamau123 Buford Pusser.
I remember that name from the movies, which I thankfully have never watched, along with Joe Don Baker, the actor who portrayed him in the original film (I think he was replaced in the third, if not the second).
There was a lot of publicity for that movie, which I think came out after Dirty Harry and was trying to get the same white male supremacist, ultra-conservative, reactionary audience.
Joe Don Baker was born to be MST3K fodder.
Mitchell!!
Thank you. It’s the first thing that comes to mind when I hear MST3K. Also! My friend ordered vinyl stickers of the movie seats and outline of the guys and she gave me one. It’s been on the bottom right of my windshield for decades now.
For like 15 years my wife and I will occasionally greet each other with the “I came here specifically for dinner!” line from MST3K Mitchell. That movie really holds up.