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.
Sad fact of reality is realizing even the good guys can be pretty bad. Or in this case, pretty down right horrible.
I remember hearing rumors about this a few years back, and kinda thinking if it turned out to be true I’m not really sure I could honestly say I would be that surprised. Still kinda bummed to have it confirmed.
I never put this guy on a pedestal, but I’ve had a poster from the original Walking Tall hanging up for a long time (not even joking lmao).
It is a good movie (if you enjoy campy weird 70s movies), but there is also just something compelling about the story (not the reality obviously). The idea of somebody beating corruption, and wanting to believe if one person persists and refuses to back down because they know right from wrong maybe they can beat the odds. Idk, I guess the glass half empty view would be asking if the corruption and injustice ever really decreased, or if it just changed into something else?