Case Summary
- Case Type
- Homicide
- Incident Date
- Oct. 30, 2026
- Incident Time
- 1:21 PM EDT
- Location
- Oberlin, OH, Oberlin, OH
- Investigating Agency
- NBC News US
- Suspect
- Daniel Jones (Asia Nguyen-Duy)
- Suspect Age
- 31
- Victim Count
- 2
- Charges
- murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence
- Arrest Status
- Arrested
- Court Status
- Arraigned
- Case Status
- Active investigation
An Oberlin College professor and his wife were found fatally shot in their Ohio home, and their 31-year-old son has been arrested and charged with murder following a welfare check conducted by local police departments.
The incident unfolded in Oberlin, Ohio, drawing an extensive law enforcement response after officers initially investigated a suspicious vehicle report near the campus before discovering the bodies inside the victims' residence.
Incident Overview
Police launched an investigation after responding to the Oberlin College Conservatory parking lot for a report of a smoldering vehicle. The vehicle, a silver Toyota hatchback with Oregon license plates, featured a boarded-up window and a pipe sticking out of the roof. Authorities identified the vehicle owner as the couple's son, who was located a short distance away and taken into custody.
Based on interactions with the suspect, officers conducted a welfare check at the family home. After forcing entry into the residence, police discovered 64-year-old Pipo Hieu Nguyen-Duy deceased on the first floor and his 56-year-old wife, Tran Thi Phong, dead in an upstairs bedroom. Investigators determined that both victims had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
Timeline of Events
- Wednesday, just before 9 a.m.: Oberlin officers respond to the Oberlin College Conservatory parking lot for a report of a smoldering vehicle.
- Wednesday, around 10:19 a.m.: The vehicle owner is located two blocks away and taken into custody without incident by police.
- Wednesday: Following interactions with the suspect, officers conduct a welfare check and force entry into the family home, discovering the two victims.
- Thursday: The suspect appears at an arraignment, where bond is set at $3 million by the judge.
Suspect Information
The suspect was identified by police as 31-year-old Daniel Jones, of Ashland, Oregon. During an arraignment hearing, the suspect asked the judge to use gender-neutral pronouns and stated they go by the name Asia Nguyen-Duy. Prosecutors and police noted that the suspect made statements indicating responsibility for the deaths during interactions with authorities and a local resident.
Victim Information
The victims were identified as 64-year-old Pipo Hieu Nguyen-Duy, a long-serving professor of studio art and photography at Oberlin College who immigrated to the United States as a political refugee from Hue, Vietnam, and his 56-year-old wife, Tran Thi Phong.
Police Response
Oberlin police officers responded to the initial vehicle fire report, located the vehicle owner two blocks away, and subsequently executed a welfare check at the family residence, forcing entry into the locked home to locate the victims.
Investigation
The investigation into the homicides was handled by Oberlin police, who coordinated response efforts from the initial vehicle report to the apprehension of the suspect and the subsequent execution of the welfare check at the crime scene.
Evidence Collected
- A silver Toyota hatchback with Oregon license plates, a boarded-up window, and a pipe sticking out of the roof
- Ammunition found inside the suspect's vehicle
- Scratches on the suspect's face and injuries to their arm and hand
Arrest Details
The suspect was taken into custody without incident approximately two blocks away from the campus parking lot at around 10:19 a.m. Wednesday after officers connected them to the smoldering vehicle.
Charges Filed
- Murder: Accused of intentionally causing the deaths of the two victims. Prosecutors filed six counts of murder.
- Felonious assault: Accused of using violence resulting in serious physical harm. Prosecutors filed four counts.
- Tampering with evidence: Accused of altering or destroying physical items related to the crime. Prosecutors filed one count.
Court Information
The case is being processed through the local court system where the suspect appeared for an arraignment. The presiding judge ordered a bond set at $3 million, citing the egregious nature of the offenses.
Statements from Authorities
Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar issued a statement regarding the elder victim, stating, During his years at Oberlin, he touched all of us through his passion for photography, and calling him a cherished colleague and a vibrant presence in the classroom and throughout campus.
Public Safety Information
Law enforcement agencies encourage anyone with information regarding criminal incidents or those experiencing personal crises to utilize available community and national resources. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. For mental health support and crisis intervention, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
What Happens Next
Following the initial arraignment and the setting of bond, the case will typically proceed through formal grand jury review or preliminary hearings, where prosecutors present evidence to establish probable cause and pursue formal indictments prior to trial proceedings.
