Elie W. Van Horn

Elie Weston Van Horn, 54, of Port Arthur, Texas, went to be with the Lord on February 22, 2026. He was born on August 30, 1971, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Linda and Lance Van Horn.

Elie was a devoted and loving husband, father, nephew, brother, uncle, and friend. He was the steady presence so many leaned on — strong, levelheaded, and wise beyond measure. Whether offering guidance, encouragement, or simply a listening ear, Elie was the person others often turned to in times of need. His absence leaves a profound void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

For 30 years, Elie faithfully served as a public servant throughout the State of Texas. From a young age, he felt called to serve others, and he answered that calling with grace, humility, honor, and unwavering dedication. The majority of Elie’s distinguished career was spent with the City of Port Arthur, where he made a lasting impact on his community, built some lifetime friendships, and was mentored by some of Port Arthur’s finest. He often spoke fondly of his time serving in Caldwell County, recalling it as some of the most enjoyable years of his career.

Elie’s commitment and courage were recognized with numerous honors, including a medal of valor and the prestigious Star of Texas Award, which is presented to those seriously injured in the line of duty. His bravery and dedication to protecting others reflected his true character and commitment to the oath he took to wear the badge. Throughout his career, Elie continually sought ways to better serve and protect both his fellow officers and the community. Demonstrating that dedication, he pursued advanced training in TASER technology and brought that knowledge back to Port Arthur Police Department, becoming the department’s first TASER instructor and helping implement it as an additional tool for officer and public safety.

Elie, alongside his longtime partner and friend, Marcelo “Mo” Molfino, became the first duo at the Port Arthur Police Department to specialize in cell phone forensics. Together, they assisted agencies across the region and throughout the nation with cell phone forensic investigations, long before the field became as widely utilized as it is today. Elie and Mo taught other professionals and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) to judges, attorneys, and prosecutors across Southeast Texas and beyond the knowledge of cell phone forensics through trainings.

Elie was assigned to the department’s first ever Street Crimes/Gang Unit and spent much of his career working major crimes investigations for 10 years. He also played a significant role in the planning and development of the department’s Blue Santa program, helping bring hope and joy to families in need during the holiday season. In addition, he served selflessly at every level of the Executive Board of the Port Arthur Police Association, faithfully advocating for his fellow officers with integrity, fairness, and compassion. Elie’s legacy of service, leadership, innovation, and sacrifice will continue to inspire all who knew him.

Elie is survived by his loving wife, Oanh Lexi Van Horn of Port Arthur, Texas; his daughters, Brittany Nguyen Whitehead and her husband, Ryan, of Mont Belvieu, Texas; and Brenna Nguyen of Port Arthur, Texas, and her fiancé, John Pham of Fort Worth, Texas; and sons, Ryan Van Horn, and Isaac Van Horn, both of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by his aunt who was like a mother to him, Tommie Jan (TJ) Thompson of Concan, Texas; his three beloved fur children, Zac, Zoe, and Yeti Van Horn; his three fur grandchildren, Max and Phoebe Nguyen Whitehead; and Ty Pham; and cousins, nieces, nephews, who will cherish his memory.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandfather, Newton B. Thompson, and grandmother, Elene Thompson Johnson.

A gathering of friends and family will take place on Friday, February 27, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m., at Melancon Levingston in Nederland. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 28, 2026 at St. a Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Nederland. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made directly to the family to be donated at a later date, in honor of Elie’s memory, to an organization that specifically helps and raises awareness for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mental health benefitting law enforcement individuals.