In the tranquil summer of 1967, a seemingly ordinary road in Tennessee became the backdrop for a harrowing event that would leave an indelible mark on history. Sheriff Buford Pusser found himself under siege, with the attack leaving him injured and his wife, Pauline, tragically killed.

Fast forward several decades, and a renewed investigative effort is shedding light on this notorious case. In the first installment of a compelling three-part series, Sheryl McCollum enlists the expertise of author and researcher Mike Elam, seasoned homicide detective Jason White, eyewitness Dennis Hathcock, and former death investigator Danny Cupples. Together, they delve into the facts surrounding that fateful August evening, seeking to unravel the truth.

The team revisits evidence that casts doubt on the established account: firearms being shuffled between vehicles, a distressed law enforcement officer allegedly making threats at a woman’s residence, and a young witness discovering parts of Pauline’s remains near the scene.

For those eager to explore more about the Pusser case, Sheryl has previously covered it in her Zone 7 podcast episodes.

Guest Bios:

Mike Elam is a former Benton County Sheriff’s Deputy and author. His book Buford Pusser: The Other Story traces his own cold case investigation into the 1967 ambush that killed Pauline Pusser.

Jason White is a veteran homicide detective with the Tulsa Police Department, a featured investigator on A&E’s “The First 48,” and the podcast host of KGRA’s “Into the Fire.”

Danny Cupples is Tennessee’s first Chief Death Investigator and a certified forensic death investigator who has trained elite forensic teams in New York. Danny teaches infant death investigations at MTSU and continues to serve on a cold case unit.

Dennis Hathcock was a teenager when he saw Sheriff Buford Pusser on the night of the ambush, later discovering critical evidence along New Hope Road.

About the Host

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, forensic and crime scene expert for “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,” and co-author of the textbook, “Cold Case: Pathways to Justice.”

She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

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[Feature Photo: Investigators look at the Pussers’ vehicle after the supposed ‘ambush.’ Inset: Pauline Mullins Pusser/Tennessee Bureau of Investigation]