Reporter who left TV to make ‘meaningful connections’ with students found dead alongside husband, and what police discovered makes the case even more tragic

Former WBRC 6 sports reporter Christina Chambers and her husband, Johnny Rimes, were found dead at their Hoover, Alabama home on Tuesday morning. Police believe it was a murder-suicide. Their 3-year-old son was found safe inside the home.

According to the New York Post, the Hoover Police Department found the couple shortly after 9:00 AM. Both had gunshot wounds. Police are still investigating, but they suspect it was a murder-suicide. The young child was nearby during the incident.

Chambers was well-known as both a reporter and a teacher. She left full-time broadcasting in 2021 to teach broadcast journalism at Thompson High School. She continued working with WBRC 6 as a freelance reporter for the Sideline segment during the recent football season.

Her students and community lost an incredible mentor

The community recognized her hard work. She won the Alabama Scholastic Press Association Advisor of the Year award in 2024. Alabaster City Schools praised her for building strong connections and growing the school’s broadcast program.

Under her guidance, the high school won a journalism sustainability award. Two of her students became Alabama Journalists of the Year. Her team also won a SkillsUSA State Championship in Broadcast News and received two All-Alabama Overall Broadcast Awards. Alabama has seen other shocking true crime cases that have devastated local communities.

Dr. Wayne Vickers, superintendent for Alabaster City Schools, called Chambers “a cherished part of the Warrior family.” 

“As a beloved member of the Warrior Nation Network, Christina brought her deep knowledge and love of sports reporting to Friday nights, leaving a lasting impression on students, colleagues, and viewers alike,” he wrote.

“She was a cherished part of the Warrior family, and we extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to all who are grieving this profound loss,” he added. 

Chambers joined WBRC 6 in 2015 and became known for the “Sideline” segment, which covered local sports with live field coverage. She graduated from the University of Alabama, Birmingham in 2011 with a journalism degree. She ran on UAB’s track and field team for four years. Tragic incidents like an elderly woman’s doorbell camera confrontation remind us how quickly lives can change.

Before WBRC 6, she worked at WLTZ NBC38 in Columbus, Georgia and Comcast Sports Southeast in Atlanta. She was also an active runner who finished the Boston Marathon three times and planned to run again in 2026.