Christina Chambers, former WBRC 6 sports reporter and Thompson High School broadcast teacher, and her husband Johnny Rimes were found dead Tuesday in their Hoover home in an apparent murder-suicide, according to police. Their 3-year-old son was found unharmed inside the residence as detectives continue to investigate.
Authorities responded shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday, after a family member discovered the couple unresponsive that morning and called 911. Officers arrived to find both Chambers and Rimes suffering from gunshot wounds, and medics pronounced them dead at the scene. Police stated that preliminary indications point toward “a murder/suicide”; however, investigators have not yet publicly identified which party may have fired the weapon or whether there had been prior calls for service at the home. Officials explained that, as with similar domestic homicide cases, the department believes there is “no threat to the public”— a determination based on available evidence suggesting a contained incident. For additional context on domestic-related murder-suicides nationally, see Violence.
Chambers, 36, became a notable figure in Alabama journalism before moving into education. She joined WBRC in 2015 and was a central contributor to the station’s Sideline program, which provides primetime coverage of high school football and local sports. Known for her presence on the field and her athletic achievements outside the newsroom, she occasionally combined both — including reporting on the Mercedes Marathon while participating in the race, colleagues said. After her career change, she continued to freelance for Sideline during the most recent football season, maintaining her connection to the station and its audience.
Her second act as a teacher drew equal admiration. Chambers joined Thompson High School’s award-winning broadcast program in 2021, helping elevate the student newsroom to statewide recognition. Under her mentorship, students earned back-to-back All-Alabama Overall Broadcast Awards, a SkillsUSA State Championship in Broadcast News, and two Alabama Journalist of the Year honors. The program also received the Alex House Journalism Sustainability Award in 2025, a testament to Chambers’s leadership and her ability to build a long-term structure for student media. In a statement shared with WBRC, Superintendent Wayne Vickers wrote, “Christina brought her deep knowledge and love of sports reporting to Friday nights, leaving a lasting impression on students, colleagues, and viewers alike.”
Chambers’ work with students was widely recognized. The Alabama Scholastic Press Association named her its 2024 Advisor of the Year, a distinction attributed to both the newsroom’s accomplishments and her reputation for fostering “meaningful connections” with young journalists. Colleagues described her as someone who combined high professional standards with care for students — a quality frequently mentioned in social media posts from Alabama educators and local reporters.
Before her years with WBRC and Thompson High School, Chambers built her early career at WLTZ NBC38 in Columbus, Georgia, and later joined Comcast Sports Southeast in Atlanta. At CSS, she covered Auburn University athletics and Friday night high school football, cultivating a regional audience that followed her long after she left the network. Friends said Chambers remained a committed Auburn and UAB supporter, often celebrating both programs on her Facebook page. In her final post, she cheered on the UAB Blazers after their win in the annual “Battle of the Bones,” continuing a connection to the university where she competed as a Division I track and field athlete and earned her journalism degree in 2011.
Her athletic background extended well beyond college. Chambers ran marathons around the world and completed three Boston Marathons, with plans to return for a fourth in 2026. Former colleagues said her dedication to distance running mirrored her approach to journalism — consistent, driven, and full of heart. WBRC anchor Jeh Jeh Pruitt remembered her as “one of the sweetest, most loving people that I know,” adding that she radiated joy in “running, loving her son, and loving life.”
Police have not released additional updates about the investigation, and autopsy results are pending. Community tributes continue to pour in as Alabama’s journalism, education, and athletic circles mourn a figure who left a lasting imprint on each.
