Oberlin College Professor and Wife Killed in Double Shooting

An Oberlin College professor and his wife were found shot to death inside their home in Oberlin, Ohio, prompting a homicide investigation that led to the arrest of a 31-year-old man, according to local authorities. The victims were identified as 64-year-old Pipo Nguyen-Duy, a longtime studio art and photography professor at the college, and his wife, Thi Than Phong.

The sequence of events began on a Wednesday morning when police and firefighters responded to the Oberlin College Conservatory parking lot regarding a vehicle fire. Authorities discovered a smoldering silver Toyota hatchback containing a makeshift wood stove chimney, personal documents, and loose ammunition. Law enforcement identified the vehicle's owner as Asia Nguyen-Duy, who also went by Daniel Jones, of Ashland, Oregon.

Following the vehicle investigation, officers performed a welfare check at the couple's residence on South Pleasant Street. After forcing entry into the home, police discovered both victims suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Pipo Nguyen-Duy was found on the first floor, while his wife was located in an upstairs bedroom.

Investigators tracked the suspect to a neighborhood on Shipherd Circle after residents reported a disheveled individual acting in a bizarre manner. According to Oberlin Prosecutor Zachary Simonoff, the suspect approached a local resident asking to be recorded on video, claiming to have escaped from a cult. In that video recording, the suspect allegedly took full responsibility for the actions.

During an arraignment hearing in Oberlin Municipal Court, the suspect appeared before Judge Farah Emeka. Court records indicate the suspect legally changed their name in 2025 and identifies as gender-neutral, requesting to be addressed as Asia Nguyen-Duy. During the proceedings, law enforcement noted the defendant had to be carried into the courtroom and refused to walk independently.

The suspect faces multiple charges, including six counts of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence. Judge Emeka set the bond at $3 million, citing the egregious nature of the crimes, well above the $1.5 million agreed upon by the prosecution and the public defender. The case was subsequently bound over to the Lorain County grand jury and Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

The Oberlin College community expressed profound grief over the loss of Professor Nguyen-Duy, who began teaching at the institution in 1998 and deeply influenced generations of students. College officials announced that campus counseling resources remain available while academic departments adjust schedules following the tragedy.