Retired MBI Agent Tim Douglas, who was known as one of the best investigators at the Department of Public Safety during his career, is being laid to rest today after being found dead in his home Tuesday.
Officials say Douglas, who would have been 54 on Sept. 6, appears to have died of natural causes.
His obituary states it well: “Tim dedicated a significant portion of his life to serving the community and the state of Mississippi as a Mississippi State Trooper, a role he embraced with unwavering commitment for 27 years. His career exemplified dedication not only to law enforcement, but also to justice and truth, underscoring his character as an empathetic individual who worked tirelessly in his role as an investigator for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations until his retirement. Tim was widely respected for his skills, earning a reputation as an excellent investigator, a reflection of his hard work and determination.”
In law enforcement circles, Douglas was known to be one of the best. He had a keen eye for human behavior, an innate knowledge of how to extract information without seeming threatening, and an empathic way of connecting with victims, their families, and even suspects.
Paul Rowlett was an analyst with the department of Justice at the time of the Jessica Chambers case and worked closely with Douglas on the main investigative team working the case.
“I will cherish the time I had the privelege to work with Tim, as an investigator and a friend. You will never find a man more dedicated to solving a case and giving a family justice, and I am proud to say I worked alongside him for over 10 years,” Rowlett said. “I learned so much from this man during that time about crime, and about life. The world lost a good one!”
A Panola County resident, Douglas worked the north Mississippi area for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation for many years. David Murtagh worked with him at MHP and MBI, and remembers Douglas as the go-to investigator for tough cases.
“In my 32 years with the department, Tim will always be known to me as one of the best criminal investigators, his natural ability was uncanny. Tim was always one of the biggest resources MBI had when a difficult case would arise,” Murtagh said. “Tim Douglas was a dedicated individual who always put others first. Despite facing challenges and setbacks in his life, Tim approached each situation with resilience and a kind heart. He had a unique ability to empathize with those around him, offering support and understanding without judgment.”
Batesville Police Chief Dennis Darby, who served in MHP and as the Panola County Sheriff, said he and Douglas maintained a close friendship until the last day.
“He was very sincere about his work, he was a perfectionist in his work,” Darby said. “We were close, we fished and hunted together, and we talked a lot, even recently. You can’t help but think of all the things you wish you would have said to him. I loved him as a brother.”
Jimmy Anthony, a gang investigator and expert, spent his career at Batesville Police Department, the Panola County Sheriff’s Department, prior to working for the state and then Lafayette County. He recalled Douglas’s advice on interviewing suspects.
“Ninety percent of people love their mother more than anything in this world,” Douglas told Anthony. “If you can find that little bit of that mama in them, they want to do right.”
“He taught me a lot about interview and interrogation and the difference between them,” Anthony said.
Cowles Horton worked as a paramedic on some of the wrecks and incidents Douglas was sent to as an officer and a trooper.
“We started our public service careers about the same time, him at Batesville PD and me on the ambulance,” Horton said. “He one time said he heard a rumor that I was going to the highway patrol, I told him he was crazy to believe that I wanted to dodge bullets, he could have all that fun! He still tried to talk me into considering it. Tim and I had a good working relationship and an even stronger friendship. When a mutual friend of our sent me a text saying that Tim had passed away, it just made me sick to my stomach.”
Even those on the other side of the interrogation/interview table thought well of Douglas, as evidenced in the Jessica Chambers murder case when suspect Quinton Tellis admitted that he thought of Douglas as a friend.
Lt Colonel James Herzog, Special Agent in Charge with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, said even after Douglas retired, his legacy with the Bureau was remarkable.
“Tim was an incredible investigator and a true friend. Even in retirement, his legacy as a special agent and the impact he made on our blue family and the community remained strong,” he said. “We’ve lost not just a remarkable professional, but a genuine friend. As a blue family, we will continue to support and pray for his loved ones during this difficult time.”
Douglas often bragged about his sons and his grandchildren to anyone who would listen, his friends said, and sent photos of the grandchildren proudly announcing them on the days they were born.
The family Tim leaves behind includes his two sons, Austin Douglas (Reed) of Monroe, LA, and Peyton Douglas (Madison) of Batesville, MS; his brother, Chris Douglas of Birmingham, AL; and four grandchildren, Jaxson Douglas, Evelynn Douglas, Mary Mason Douglas, and Thatcher Douglas.
Those who were closest to Tim Douglas knew that his enormous heart for people and justice meant that he fought a lot of demons, both for others and some that were his own. But he still loved those close to him with vulnerability, loyalty and a particular selflessness that deflected compliments and accolades by turning them around on the giver.
In a 2018 text conversation with a journalist friend about his career and how he wanted to be remembered, Douglas wrote, “You are one of my greatest friends and allies. I pray that God richly blesses you!” before saying simply that he hoped people would remember, “I was a good man.”
