Alabama sports reporter and husband found dead in suspected murder-suicide; 3-year-old son unharmed
Three-year-old opened the door for his grandfather, who found the couple inside their Hoover home; authorities investigating the circumstances.
An Alabama sports reporter and her husband were found dead Tuesday inside their Hoover home in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide. The couple's 3-year-old son was at the residence but unharmed when the child's grandfather arrived after the pair did not attend a pre-scheduled church event.
Hoover Police said the grandfather arrived at about 9 a.m. after the couple did not appear at the church event. He was greeted at the door by the boy, who then led him inside; inside, authorities said, the bodies were found.
Christina Chambers, a former WBRC 6 sports reporter, and her husband, Johnny Rimes, moved to the Hoover area about seven years ago, neighbors said. Chambers joined WBRC in 2015 and became a central figure on its Sideline program, providing primetime coverage of local sports from the field. After leaving the full-time role in July 2021 to pursue teaching, she continued to freelance for WBRC during the 2025 football season. She later worked as a broadcast journalism teacher at Thompson High School and was honored as the 2024 Advisor of the Year by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association, according to station reports.
Neighbors described the couple as generally happy in the years after their move, though one neighbor recalled that after their child was born, conversations with Chambers and Rimes suggested something had changed. Riverside-area and school-community acquaintances remembered Chambers as both a diligent journalist and a devoted educator, quickly forming connections with students and viewers alike.
On Tuesday night, colleagues at WBRC aired tributes to Chambers, celebrating her work on the Sideline program and her commitment to mentoring young journalists. They recalled her warmth and the ease with which she made viewers feel like friends, and they noted her influence on students at Thompson High School and beyond.
Hoover Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital as investigators continued to piece together what happened. Authorities have urged the public to await official statements and cautioned against speculation as the investigation proceeds.
The couple’s family and community members are mourning the sudden loss of two longtime local figures whose work spanned local sports broadcasting and education. The case marks a tragic development in a community that had previously seen Chambers recognized for her contributions to journalism and the next generation of reporters.
