“Hero” Cop Who Inspired “Walking Tall” Movies Likely Murdered His Wife

Investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have determined that Buford Pusser, the tough-on-crime sheriff whose exploits inspired the 1973 film “Walking Tall” and its sequels, likely murdered his wife Pauline in 1967 and staged the scene to look like an ambush.

The findings, announced Friday, mark a stunning reversal in a case that has long been part of Tennessee lore, with authorities stating that if Pusser were alive today, they would seek an indictment against him for first-degree murder.

Pusser, born in 1937 in Adamsville, Tennessee, built a reputation as a no-nonsense lawman after serving as McNairy County sheriff from 1964 to 1970. A former professional wrestler known as “Buford the Bull,” he targeted organized crime syndicates like the State Line Mob and Dixie Mafia, surviving multiple assassination attempts and earning fame for his aggressive tactics against moonshiners, gamblers, and other criminals along the Mississippi-Tennessee border.

His story captured national attention, leading to books, songs, and Hollywood adaptations, including the original “Walking Tall” starring Joe Don Baker as a club-wielding sheriff, as well as remakes in 2004 with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and in 2007.

For decades, the official narrative held that Pusser and his wife Pauline were victims of a roadside attack on August 12, 1967, while responding to a reported disturbance near Guys, Tennessee. According to Pusser’s account, assailants in a passing car opened fire, killing Pauline instantly and wounding him severely in the jaw and face, requiring extensive surgeries. He blamed figures like Kirksey Nix of the Dixie Mafia, though no charges were ever filed in the case. Pusser continued his crime-fighting crusade until term limits ended his tenure as sheriff, and he later served as Adamsville constable before dying in a suspicious single-car crash in 1974 at age 36.

The case remained dormant until 2022, when TBI Director David Rausch reopened it as part of a broader cold-case review. A tip in spring 2023 about a potential murder weapon accelerated the probe, leading to the exhumation of Pauline’s body from Adamsville Cemetery in February 2024 for a full autopsy—something that had never been done after her death. Investigators uncovered glaring inconsistencies: blood-spatter patterns on the vehicle and ground did not match Pusser’s description of the shooting occurring from inside the car.

Evidence suggested Pauline was shot outside the vehicle and then placed inside to support the ambush story. The new autopsy revealed cranial trauma incompatible with the crime-scene photos, along with signs of prior abuse, such as a healed broken nose, pointing to a history of domestic violence in the marriage.

Authorities emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, with efforts to identify any accomplices and release a redacted 1,000-page case file to the University of Tennessee at Martin for public access. District Attorney Mark Davidson for Tennessee’s 25th Judicial District addressed the revelations directly: “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. The truth matters. Justice matters. Even 58 years later. Pauline deserves both.”

Pauline’s brother, Griffon Mullins, shared his memories of her in the wake of the findings. “You would fall in love with her because she was a people person. And of course, my family would always go to Pauline if they had an issue or they needed some advice and she was always there for them. She was just a sweet person. I loved her with all my heart.”

Reflecting on the marriage, he added: “I knew there was some trouble in Pauline’s marriage, but she wasn’t one to talk about her problems. For that reason, I was ‘not totally shocked.’” Mullins expressed relief at the progress, noting the family’s long wait for answers in a case that had glorified Pusser while sidelining his sister’s fate.

This development serves as a sobering reminder that no one stands above the law, even those celebrated for enforcing it. In a society that values strong families and accountability, the pursuit of justice for victims like Pauline underscores the need to confront uncomfortable truths, no matter how deeply embedded in cultural myths. As TBI agents continue their work, the full story may yet reveal more about the man behind the legend and the woman whose life was cut short.