Alabama sports reporter and husband found dead in Hoover in apparent murder-suicide; child unharmed

A former Alabama sports reporter and her husband were found dead Tuesday morning in what authorities say appears to be a murder-suicide at their Hoover home. The couple’s 3-year-old son was unharmed and reportedly led his grandfather into the residence after the event.

Christina Chambers, a former WBRC 6 sports reporter, and her husband, Johnny Rimes, were discovered inside their home in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham. The child was at the scene but unharmed; Rimes’ father arrived after 9 a.m. after the couple failed to attend a pre-scheduled church event, a neighbor told People. The Hoover Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Hoover police have not released a motive or identified any suspects. The family’s neighbors described the couple as happy in recent years, though one neighbor said that after their child was born, “something wasn’t right.” The grandfather’s account, conveyed by investigators, was that the child answered the door and then led him inside where the bodies were found.

Chambers joined WBRC in 2015 and became a familiar face on the station’s Sideline program, providing live local sports coverage from the field. She left the station’s full-time staff in July 2021 to pursue a teaching career but continued to freelance for WBRC during the 2025 football season. Chambers taught broadcast journalism at Thompson High School, where she was named the 2024 Advisor of the Year by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association, according to WBRC.

Colleagues at WBRC expressed shock and shared memories of Chambers as a welcoming presence who connected with students and viewers alike. "Christina Chambers had a beautiful ability to naturally feel like a friend immediately," one former colleague said, reflecting on her impact as both a journalist and educator. WBRC reported that the community is mourning the loss of someone who touched many lives in Birmingham’s sports and academic circles.

The Hoover community and the broader Birmingham area have begun to process the loss of two local figures known for their contributions to sports journalism and teaching. Investigators have urged patience as they review the circumstances surrounding the deaths and gather details from those at the scene. No further information was available publicly Tuesday evening, and authorities asked for privacy for the family during this difficult time.

Further context about Chambers’ career and community ties comes from WBRC, which noted her transition from broadcasting to teaching and her long-standing role in local coverage. The station has aired tributes to honor her contributions to journalism and education, reflecting a community that valued her work both on-screen and in the classroom.

Chambers’ colleagues described her as someone who could connect with viewers and students alike, a quality that earned her recognition as an influential figure in local sports media. The family’s passing marks a somber moment for those who knew them through the newsroom and the school community that benefited from her teaching.