When it came to finding a hit-and-run suspect, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy A. Watts was tenacious, his colleagues say.

Cpl. Watts, who for the past 14 years investigated crashes involving serious injuries or death, has died. He was 38.

His former wife, Kathy Watts, found him at his Lake Worth home on Sunday night.

“She found food burning on the stove in the kitchen,” Maj. Richard D. Carpenter wrote to Col. Charles Hall. “She turned the stove off and began searching for Cpl. Watts. She found him in his bedroom, lying on his back on his bed.”

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner on Monday conducted an autopsy. He is awaiting a laboratory analysis to determine the cause of death.

Cpl. Watts’ brother, however, said the medical examiner told the family that he had “died in his sleep of medical complications.”

“All prescription stuff,” Larry Watts said. “He had a rapid heartbeat. He never drank nor smoked. He was stressed from man-made stress.”

Cpl. Watts began his career with the Highway Patrol in February 1982. After a stint in Fort Pierce, Cpl. Watts was transferred to Troop L in Lantana 10 months later and was stationed there at the time of his death.

Cpl. Robert Borman recalls when Cpl. Watts was promoted to corporal in 1985. As a corporal, he investigated traffic homicides.

“I broke Timmy in in homicides,” Borman said on Monday. “He was a good guy.”

Cpl. Watts enjoyed fishing, Larry Watts said. He raised dogs and dabbled in computers.

Joseph Figura of Coral Springs echoed the sentiments of many.

“It’s been a long time since someone went out of their way when they didn’t have to for me,” said Figura, who was struck by a hit-and-run driver. “A person like Tim Watts makes me believe in the human race again.

“This is a man who takes pride in his work, and if you are right, he will back you 150 percent and not give up,” Figura wrote.

In June, he investigated the Yamato Road crash in which six retirees died in West Boca Raton.

In addition to his former wife and his brother, Cpl. Watts is survived by a son, Timothy Jr.

Viewing will be Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Mizell-Faville Zern Funeral Home, 4101 Parker Ave. in West Palm Beach. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will follow at Fieldcrest Cemetery.