A quiet Ohio college community is struggling to come to terms with the deaths of a longtime professor and his wife after authorities uncovered a disturbing chain of events that allegedly led to their killings.
Asia Nguyen-Duy, 31, has been charged in connection with the deaths of their father, Pipo Nguyen-Duy, 64, and stepmother, Tran Thi Phong, 56. Both victims were found shot inside their home in Oberlin, Ohio, on October 28, 2026.
The case took an unsettling turn when prosecutors described how the accused allegedly approached a stranger shortly after the shootings, asked to record a video and made statements about killing family members.
During a subsequent encounter with police, Nguyen-Duy allegedly admitted to killing their family and provided officers with the address where the victims were found.
The defendant now faces six counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and one count of tampering with evidence. A judge ordered that they remain in custody on a $3 million bond.
A suspicious vehicle led police to the investigation
The investigation began Wednesday morning when emergency personnel responded to a report of a smoking vehicle near the Oberlin College Conservatory.
Firefighters and police officers arrived at the college parking area to investigate the unusual situation.
Authorities discovered a vehicle registered to Nguyen-Duy. Investigators reportedly found a 17-round Glock magazine and two 9mm ammunition rounds in connection with the vehicle investigation.
The discovery prompted officers to identify and locate the vehicle’s registered owner.
According to the investigation, police eventually encountered Nguyen-Duy near Shipherd Circle, where witnesses had reported seeing a disheveled person.
Officers noticed scratches on the defendant’s face, along with injuries to their arm and hand.
What happened next would lead investigators to a nearby residence and reveal a deadly situation inside.
Prosecutors describe an alleged video confession
During the court hearing, prosecutors shared details about an encounter that allegedly occurred before police took Nguyen-Duy into custody.
According to prosecutor Zachary Simonoff, the defendant approached a stranger’s home and asked the resident to record a video.
Nguyen-Duy allegedly said they did not want police involved and described themselves as escaping a cult.
In the recording, prosecutors said the defendant identified themselves and made statements accepting responsibility for their actions.
The alleged video became one of the details presented during the court proceedings as prosecutors outlined the events leading to the arrest.
When officers later approached Nguyen-Duy, prosecutors said the defendant told them that they had killed their family.
The defendant also provided an address on South Pleasant Street, less than a mile from where officers had encountered them.
Police then went to the property to check on the people inside.
Officers discovered two victims inside the home
When officers arrived at the South Pleasant Street residence, they found two people dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Prosecutors described the scene as showing blood throughout the home.
Authorities identified the victims as Pipo Nguyen-Duy and Tran Thi Phong.
Pipo, 64, was a respected studio art and photography professor at Oberlin College. His wife, Phong, was 56.
Investigators have not publicly established a motive for the killings.
Authorities also said that the firearm believed to have been used in the shootings had not been recovered. A fanny pack the defendant was reportedly wearing around the time of the alleged attack was also still missing.
Those outstanding items remain relevant as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Family concerns raised during the hearing
Another troubling detail emerged when prosecutors discussed their communication with Nguyen-Duy’s mother, who lives in Oregon.
According to Simonoff, she contacted authorities and expressed concerns about her child’s mental condition.
The prosecutor told the court that the mother described Nguyen-Duy as currently experiencing psychosis and needing medication.
However, no publicly established medical finding has explained the alleged shootings, and authorities have not announced a confirmed motive.
The information shared during the hearing provides background on concerns raised by a family member, but it should not be treated as proof of what caused the incident.
A $3 million bond and serious criminal charges
Nguyen-Duy appeared in court on Thursday, October 29, as prosecutors outlined the allegations.
The defendant had to be carried into the courtroom by officers and was later seated before the judge.
Court records show that the charges include six counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and one count of tampering with evidence.
The judge set bond at $3 million, and Nguyen-Duy remained in custody at the Lorain County Jail.
The case is moving forward to the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, where it is expected to go before a grand jury.
The defendant has not been convicted, and the allegations will be addressed through the criminal court process.
Who was Pipo Nguyen-Duy?
Beyond the criminal investigation, the deaths have deeply affected Oberlin College, where Pipo Nguyen-Duy spent decades teaching and developing his photography career.
He joined the college in 1998 and became known for his work in studio art and fine-art photography.
Born in Vietnam, Nguyen-Duy came to the United States as a refugee in 1975. Over the years, he built an artistic career that earned recognition beyond the college community.
His accomplishments included receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship in photography in 2011.
His artistic work explored subjects including immigration, cultural identity, intimacy, abandonment and the lasting effects of war.
For students and colleagues, his loss represents more than the death of a faculty member. He was a longtime presence in the classroom whose teaching and creative work helped shape the college’s artistic community.
Following the news, Oberlin College adjusted some studio art classes and made space for students, faculty and others to remember the professor.
A collection of his photography was also made available at the campus art museum, giving members of the community an opportunity to reflect on his work and legacy.
College leaders described the loss as deeply painful for the institution and the people who knew him.
Questions remain as the investigation continues
Although prosecutors have presented an account of the events leading to the arrest, several questions remain unanswered.
Investigators have not publicly explained what prompted the alleged attack, why the defendant reportedly described themselves as escaping a cult, or where the suspected firearm and missing fanny pack may be.
Authorities also have not established a connection between the smoking vehicle discovered near the conservatory and the shootings beyond the details presented during the investigation.
For now, the case centers on the allegations, evidence gathered by police and statements presented in court.
The deaths of Pipo Nguyen-Duy and Tran Thi Phong have left a family grieving and a college community mourning a respected educator.
As the legal proceedings move forward, investigators and prosecutors will face the task of establishing what happened inside the home and answering the questions that remain surrounding the deadly incident.
