A tight-knit Alabama community is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of a beloved former sports reporter and educator after she and her husband were found dead in their home in what police believe was a murder-suicide. Their young son was found safe nearby.
Christina Chambers, a former WBRC 6 sports reporter who later left television to pursue teaching, and her husband, Johnny Rimes, were discovered at their family home in Hoover shortly after 9 a.m. December 9th, WBRC confirmed. The couple’s 3-year-old son was also inside the home but was unharmed, according to the Hoover Police Department.
Authorities said both adults suffered gunshot wounds and that investigators suspect the two died in “a murder/suicide,” though police emphasized that the case remains under investigation.
Chambers was widely respected in both journalism and education. After stepping away from full-time broadcasting, she became a broadcast journalism teacher at Thompson High School, where she quickly made a lasting impact. Her work earned her the Alabama Scholastic Press Association Advisor of the Year award in 2024, an honor highlighted on her Facebook page.
Alabaster City Schools praised Chambers for her influence on students and the school’s growing media program, noting her “meaningful connections” and “dedication” to her students. During her time at Thompson High School, Chambers helped the school earn a journalism sustainability award, mentored two students who went on to be named Alabama Journalists of the Year, led her team to a SkillsUSA State Championship in Broadcast News, and brought home two All-Alabama Overall Broadcast Awards.
Dr. Wayne Vickers, superintendent for Alabaster City Schools, remembered Chambers not only for her talent, but for her heart. “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.”
Chambers joined WBRC 6 in 2015 and quickly became a familiar face through the station’s popular “Sideline” segment, which brought local high school sports to life with live, on-the-field coverage. She also worked across other areas of sports reporting, sometimes even covering the same marathons she was racing in herself.
Although Chambers transitioned to teaching full-time in 2021, she maintained a connection to WBRC 6, continuing as a freelance reporter for “Sideline” during the most recent football season.
Before arriving in Birmingham, Chambers built her career at WLTZ NBC38 in Columbus, Georgia, and later at Comcast Sports Southeast in Atlanta, where she covered Auburn University athletics. According to her Facebook page, she remained a loyal supporter of the Tigers long after leaving the network.
She also proudly supported her alma mater, the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In her final Facebook post, Chambers celebrated the Blazers’ victory in the “Battle of the Bones.” A former student-athlete, she competed for four years on UAB’s Division I track and field team and graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Outside of work, Chambers was an avid runner who competed in marathons around the world. She completed the Boston Marathon three times and had plans to run it again in 2026.
As the investigation continues, the focus for many remains on remembering Chambers’ passion, mentorship, and the countless lives she touched — in classrooms, on sidelines, and throughout the community she loved.
