Son held on $3 million bail after killing of Oberlin professor

Daniel Jones, 31, is being held on $3 million bail after being charged with six counts of murder in the deaths of his father, Pipo Nguyen-Duy, and stepmother, Tran Thi Phong. The bodies of the couple were discovered in their home in Oberlin, Ohio, on Wednesday morning. Nguyen-Duy, 64, had served as the studio art chair at Oberlin College for nearly 30 years. His stepmother, 56, died alongside him in the incident.

The sequence of events began on Wednesday with a report of a car fire in a parking lot near the college. Officers located a Toyota hatchback with Oregon license plates registered to Jones. They searched the vehicle and found his wallet, passport, and ammunition. More than an hour later, police found Jones about a mile away. He was taken into custody without incident after a resident reported a wet, disheveled man at her front door.

Following the arrest, officers performed a wellness check at the parents' residence. After forcing entry, they found Nguyen-Duy and Thi Phong shot to death. Authorities stated they are investigating the motive for the killings. Jones was charged with four counts of felonious assault and one count of tampering with evidence in addition to the murder counts.

During an initial court appearance on Thursday, Jones did not enter a plea. His lawyer, Jenifer Berki Merrill, stated that the defendant prefers to go by his birth name, Asia Nguyen-Duy. At the time of his arrest, Jones had cuts to his face and injuries to his hand and arm. Police have been in contact with Jones's mother in Oregon, who reportedly told officials that he has a mental illness and requires medication. Her name has not been released.

Nguyen-Duy was a highly respected figure at the north Ohio institution. He migrated to the United States from Vietnam in 1975 as a political refugee. Over his long career, he was honored for his photography and named a Guggenheim fellow. The college community was shaken by the news of his death.

The investigation continues as officials examine the evidence recovered from the vehicle and the scene. The case remains active with Jones in custody pending further legal proceedings. The specific details of the timeline leading to the shooting are still under review by investigators.