True Crime Reporter® Podcast Features Cold Case Murder Mystery with $1 Million Reward

The True Crime Reporter® Podcast, hosted by Peabody Award-winning investigative journalist Robert Riggs, is spotlighting one of Tennessee’s most haunting unsolved murders: the 2021 shotgun killing of 63-year-old Jim Grimes. The episode aims to bring national attention to the cold case—and to reignite leads with the promise of a $1 million reward.

Jim Grimes, a beloved civic leader and business owner, was ambushed and gunned down at close range near a barn on his rural property in Lynnville, Tennessee. The killing occurred as he completed his nightly routine of feeding animals. There were no signs of robbery, no forensic evidence left behind, and no witnesses—just the chilling precision of a killer who knew the land and his habits.

“This wasn’t a robbery. It wasn’t random. Someone knew his routine—and waited until the perfect moment to strike,” said Robert Riggs, creator and host of True Crime Reporter®. “We are using the power of podcasting to put pressure on this case and ask: if someone talked, are you the person who will help bring justice?”

The Giles County Sheriff’s Department has poured thousands of hours into the case. Yet, four years later, the case remains unsolved. In partnership with the Carolinas Cold Case Coalition, retired NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy, one of the nation’s foremost experts on unsolved homicides, joined the effort to identify the killer.

“In my mind, there’s probably no more than three or four suspects in this case. It’s just getting to the right one,” said Joe Kennedy. “This was not a crime of opportunity—it was calculated. The million-dollar reward might be the key to breaking through years of silence.”

Grimes’ widow, Dawn Grimes, continues to lead a public campaign for justice, refusing to let the memory of her husband fade. A billboard now stands at the front of their property with a message in bold: “I WAS MURDERED HERE ON 4-19-21. HELP ME GET JUSTICE.”

“Every day I wake up and live with the fact that the person who murdered my husband is still out there,” said Dawn Grimes. “This was our home. I won’t leave it, and I won’t stop fighting until the person responsible is held accountable. We will never forget. We will never give up.”

Jim Grimes was known for his kindness, deep faith, and tireless support of his community. His death sent shockwaves through Giles County, where investigators continue to chase every tip and interview every possible connection—more than 200 people to date.

Lt. Shane Hunter, a former Giles County Sheriff’s investigator who worked the case and now serves with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, goes to bed thinking about the case and wakes up thinking about it. “I don’t think this is just the perfect crime that somebody’s going to walk scot free for. We’re not going to let it happen. There are too many people dedicated to getting this solved, and ultimately, justice will be served.”

Anyone with information is urged to call 931-638-2358 or 800-TBI-FIND. Callers can remain anonymous. The $1 million reward is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible.

The full investigative story is now available on the True Crime Reporter® podcast, and the True Crime Reporter® YouTube Channel.

Robert Riggs recently published Texas Crime Stories: Riding Herd On The Lawless and was an Executive Producer of Freed To Kill, a streaming TV documentary about Texas’ most notorious serial killer.