Professor and Wife Found Dead; Son Charged with Murder

A professor and his wife were found dead in their home in Oberlin, Ohio, following a welfare check initiated by police. The bodies of Pipo Hieu Nguyen-Duy, 64, and his wife, Tran Thi Phong, 56, were discovered in their residence on Wednesday.

The suspect, identified as Daniel Jones, 31, of Ashland, Oregon, was arrested and charged with six counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, and one count of tampering with evidence. Jones, who goes by the name Asia Nguyen-Duy, requested the use of gender-neutral pronouns during arraignment.

The investigation began after Oberlin officers responded to a report of a smoldering vehicle in the Oberlin College Conservatory parking lot. The silver Toyota hatchback, with Oregon license plates, had a boarded-up window and a pipe protruding from the roof.

Jones, the son of the deceased, was located two blocks away and taken into custody without incident. Police conducted a welfare check at the family home after interacting with Jones, and forced entry to locate the victims.

During arraignment, officers transported Asia Nguyen-Duy into the courtroom in handcuffs and ankle restraints. The prosecutor stated that ammunition was found in the suspect’s car and that they had asked a resident to record a video stating they were escaping a cult.

Asia Nguyen-Duy told police they had killed their family and gave them the address to the family home. The weapon used in the shooting has not been found. The judge set bond at $3 million, citing the egregious nature of the crime.

Oberlin College remembered the elder Nguyen-Duy as a 'beloved professor' of studio art and photography, who had taught at the school since 1998. The college’s president called him a cherished colleague and a vibrant presence on campus.