Bio

Michael Dale Rimmer was born on March 13, 1966. He grew up in a complex family environment. Rimmer's parents married young and had three children quickly, with Rimmer being the middle child. The family moved several times during his childhood, following his father's job. They eventually settled in Memphis, Tennessee, where his father worked for the city government. Rimmer's parents divorced when he was young, after which they remarried.

Growing up, Rimmer had behavioral problems in school and struggled academically. He dropped out in the ninth grade. By this time, he was already showing signs of instability. His childhood was marked by these challenges, particularly during a time when his father was being treated for mental issues. Rimmer was hospitalized during his teenage years, which overshadowed his early education.

As a young adult, Rimmer began to get into trouble with the law. At eighteen, he was arrested for his involvement in an attempt to buy drugs and served time in prison. During the 1980s, he had a romantic relationship with Ricci Lynn Ellsworth, who would later become his ex-girlfriend. Their relationship was tumultuous, as there were reports of violence. In fact, in 1989, Rimmer was convicted of raping Ellsworth and sentenced to prison.

While incarcerated, Ellsworth visited him frequently, suggesting that they still had some form of relationship despite the circumstances of his conviction. After serving about seven years, Rimmer was released from prison in October 1996. Upon his release, he struggled to reintegrate into society. He took a job as a mechanic in Memphis, and reports indicate that he had unresolved issues from his past.

Murder Story

On February 8, 1997, Ricci Lynn Ellsworth, a 45-year-old night clerk at a Memphis motel, went missing during her shift. Blood was discovered in the office area where she worked, along with signs of a struggle. Approximately $600 was missing from the cash register, indicating a robbery had taken place.

Michael Dale Rimmer, Ellsworth's ex-boyfriend, became the prime suspect. Rimmer had a history of violence against Ellsworth, having served time for raping her in 1989. After his release from prison in October 1996, he made threats to kill her. Eyewitnesses noted seeing Ellsworth at the motel shortly before she vanished.

Rimmer was not present when police first arrived at the scene after a railroad employee gave them a tip about the blood. After her disappearance, he left Memphis and traveled across several states. A month later, he was arrested in Indiana while driving a stolen vehicle. During this arrest, police found blood in the back seat of the car. DNA testing matched this blood to Ellsworth, and it also matched blood found at the crime scene in Memphis.

While under arrest, Rimmer attempted to escape several times, including hijacking the van that was transporting him back to Tennessee. His behavior raised further suspicions regarding his connection to Ellsworth’s disappearance. Despite the lack of her body, Rimmer was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated robbery.

A jury trial followed, and they convicted him in 1997. Rimmer was sentenced to death for the murder of Ricci Ellsworth. However, this sentence was later reversed due to errors during the trial, leading to a resentencing hearing in 2004, where he was again sentenced to death. Rimmer’s case has involved numerous appeals concerning legal errors during his trials, but he remains convicted of the crimes committed against Ellsworth.