EP138 - The 'Walking Tall' Murder of Pauline Pusser

A famous sheriff fights crime and corruption by taking the battle right to the enemy—using a very large oak stick to bust up illegal casinos, brothels, moonshine stills, and heads. He becomes a hero of the people. Books are written. Hollywood films are made about his life. Then … a horrific murder and fiery accident lend a surprise twist, with everyone questioning their worship and idealization. 

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M. William Phelps is the New York Times best-selling author of 46 nonfiction books and winner of the Excellence in (Investigative) Journalism Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Phelps has written for numerous publications1, including the Providence Journal, Connecticut Magazine and Hartford Courant. Diversifying his talents, Phelps consulted on the first season of the hit Showtime cable television series Dexter and has executive produced and starred in over 350 hours of true crime television. All of which gives him a confluence of expertise and experience to bring to true crime fanatics.

Phelps grew up in East Hartford, Connecticut, and now splits his time between Tolland County and N. Stonington, CT. In July 2017, he published his definitive, 10-year project about Happy Face Killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, DANGEROUS GROUND: My Friendship with a Serial Killer.

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