On 29/8, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) acknowledged that this discovery might shock many fans of Buford Pusser and those who saw the 1973 film *Walking Tall*, which portrayed him as a fierce and righteous sheriff, uncompromising with criminals. The film was remade in 2004, and many officers joined law enforcement thanks to Pusser's story, according to District Attorney General Mark Davidson.

There's enough evidence that if Pusser, the McNairy County sheriff who died in a car crash seven years after his wife's death, were alive today, prosecutors would file murder charges against him for the death of Pauline Mullins Pusser. Investigators also found signs that Pauline was a victim of domestic violence.

The TBI began reviewing decades-old files on Pauline's death in 2022 while reinvestigating unsolved cases. Agents discovered discrepancies between Pusser's statements and the evidence, received a tip about the murder weapon, and exhumed Pauline's body for examination.

Authorities exhumed Pauline Mullins Pusser's grave for investigation in 2024. Photo: *TBI*

"This case doesn't destroy a legend, it restores dignity to Pauline and brings closure to her family, while ensuring the truth isn't buried by time. Truth matters. Justice matters. Even after 58 years, Pauline deserved both," the TBI director stated in an online press conference.

Discrepancies in the Sheriff's Account

The incident occurred on 12/8/1967. Pusser received an early morning call about a disturbance. He said his wife wanted to accompany him to the scene. As they passed New Hope Methodist Church, a car stopped and fired multiple shots into Pusser's vehicle, killing Pauline and injuring him. The sheriff was hospitalized for 18 days and underwent several surgeries to recover. The case primarily relied on Pusser's testimony and was quickly closed.

During the case review, medical examiner Michael Revelle studied autopsy photos, crime scene photos, the then-medical examiner's notes, and Pusser's statements. He concluded Pauline was likely shot outside the vehicle and then placed inside.

He found Pauline's skull injuries didn't match the crime scene photos inside the car. Blood spatter on the hood outside the car contradicted Pusser's account. The gunshot wound on Pusser's cheek was actually from close range, not from a distance as he described, and was possibly self-inflicted.

The autopsy revealed Pauline had a healed nasal fracture from before her death. Statements from acquaintances at the time of her death supported the conclusion that she was a victim of domestic violence.

The TBI plans to release the entire case file, over 1,000 pages, to the public by transferring it to the University of Tennessee after redaction. The university will create a searchable online database for the case.

Tue Anh (*AP*)