Asia Nguyen-Duy Pleads No Contest to Murder of Oberlin Professor
The 31-year-old suspect appeared in Lorain County court Thursday after prosecutors revealed he asked a neighbor to record his confession.
By Jenna Mitchell ·
Asia Nguyen-Duy, 31, appeared in Lorain County court on Thursday to face charges related to the deaths of two residents in their home. The defendant, who resides in Ashland, Oregon, was transported into the courtroom by police officers and seated at the defense table. During the proceedings, Nguyen-Duy stated that they identify as gender-neutral and prefer that name. Court records indicate the individual previously went by Daniel Jones before legally changing their name in 2025.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Nguyen-Duy approached a nearby resident shortly after the shootings. The suspect, who had visible scratches and blood on their body, requested that the resident record a video. In the footage, Nguyen-Duy admitted to killing their family members and claimed the motive was escaping a cult. They accepted full responsibility for the acts in the recording.
The incident began when police discovered a smoldering, modified vehicle in an Oberlin College parking lot on Wednesday morning. The car was registered to Nguyen-Duy and contained loose ammunition and magazine packaging. Officers located the suspect nearby and subsequently performed a welfare check at the victims' residence.
Police found Pipo Nguyen-Duy, 64, and Thi Tran Phong, 56, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Pipo Nguyen-Duy served as a studio art professor at Oberlin College for many years and was known as an internationally exhibited photographer.
Nguyen-Duy is charged with six counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, and one count of tampering with evidence. A judge set bond at $3 million and bound the case over to the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
The next scheduled hearing date has not been publicly announced in the initial court filings.
