'Walking Tall' sheriff likely murdered his wife in 1967, Tennessee officials say [View all]

[4th]

I remember the movies, though I forgot all about them since about 1975.
I you like adolescent male revenge fantasy (and I did) they were great.

But ...

‘Walking Tall’ sheriff likely murdered his wife in 1967, Tennessee officials say
https://www.al.com/crime/2025/08/walking-tall-sheriff-likely-murdered-his-wife-in-1967-tennessee-officials-say.html

A renewed investigation into the unsolved 1967 murder of the wife of McNairy County, Tenn. sheriff Buford Pusser debunks what has for decades been depicted in movies and implicates the long-dead lawman in his wife’s shooting.

The sheriff, who died in a 1974 car crash, long said Pauline Pusser went with him on a call on Aug. 12, 1967 when a car pulled up alongside them and shots were fired, killing her and leaving Buford shot in the face.

She was 33.

The scene was depicted in the 1973 movie “Walking Tall,” with Buford Pusser depicted by Joe Don Baker. The movie spawned sequels and remakes. Baker died earlier this year at age 89.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney General Mark Davidson said today that the evidence instead shows Buford Pusser most likely shot his wife, put her in a car and then shot himself.

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