In a tragic turn of events that shook a Huntsville, Alabama community, 16-year-old Xzariah Rice was found deceased on June 19, 2018. The grim discovery was made at a residence on Knollbrook Drive, where she and two others had been the victims of a violent crime. Rice, a female, was a promising and vibrant young woman, known for her love of dance and her uplifting spirit.
She was an honors student and a star on the Jemison High School Jaguarette Dance Team, as well as the captain of the Limelight Dance Production. Those who knew her described her as a goofy and happy person, whose kindness was felt by everyone around her.
The bodies of Xzariah, her 17-year-old friend Heaven Hines, and Heaven's 42-year-old mother, Iris Koress Bynum, were found inside the home approximately 12 hours after they were killed. A concerned relative had contacted the police, which led to the discovery of the triple homicide. The investigation quickly pointed to a suspect, Rodney Shawn Geddes, who was 43 years old at the time and had been in a previous relationship with Bynum. It was revealed that Geddes had been living in the home with Bynum but they had recently separated.
A few hours after the bodies were discovered, Geddes was located in Franklin County, Tennessee, walking near Interstate 24. He was initially taken into custody on unrelated charges and was subsequently extradited back to Huntsville to face charges for the murders. Geddes was charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths of Xzariah Rice, Heaven Hines, and Iris Bynum.
In October 2019, a grand jury indicted Rodney Geddes on three counts of capital murder for the shooting deaths of the three victims. Following the indictment, he was held without bail in the Madison County Jail awaiting trial. The loss of Xzariah Rice was deeply felt by her friends and family, who remembered her as a talented dancer and a cherished friend, whose life was cut tragically short.
