Son of Beloved Vietnamese-American Professor Allegedly Confessed to Killing Father and Stepmother on Video — Then Asked a Stranger to Record It

The 31-year-old suspect reportedly approached a stranger’s home, claiming they were escaping a cult and asking to record a video. Prosecutors say they later admitted responsibility for the deaths of their father and stepmother, whose bodies were discovered inside their Ohio home.

A shocking double homicide has devastated the community surrounding Oberlin College in Ohio after a longtime professor and his wife were found shot to death inside their home. The victims were identified as 64-year-old Pipo Nguyen-Duy, a respected studio art and photography professor, and his 56-year-old wife, Tran Thi Phong. Their child, 31-year-old Asia Nguyen-Duy, has been arrested and charged in connection with both deaths. What made the case even more disturbing were prosecutors’ claims that the suspect asked a stranger to record a video shortly after the killings, allegedly making statements that pointed to their involvement.

According to authorities, the investigation began on the morning of October 28, 2026, when police and firefighters responded to reports of a smoldering vehicle in a parking lot near Oberlin College’s Conservatory. The vehicle was reportedly registered to Asia Nguyen-Duy. Investigators found personal belongings and loose ammunition inside, along with unusual modifications to the car, including a boarded-up window and a wood-burning stove in the back seat. Police then located Asia nearby, after a resident reported that a disheveled person had appeared at their door.

Prosecutors told the court that Asia had asked the resident to record a video intended for the internet. In the recording, they allegedly identified themselves as Asia Nguyen-Duy, said they were escaping a cult and declared that everything they had done was their own decision and that they accepted responsibility. The prosecutor also said Asia did not want police involved. When officers spoke with the suspect, they allegedly told police that they had killed their family and directed investigators to the family home.

Officers subsequently went to the residence on South Pleasant Street to check on the occupants. Inside, they discovered Pipo Nguyen-Duy on the first floor and Tran Thi Phong on the second floor. Both had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a confirmed motive, and the firearm believed to have been used in the shootings had not been recovered in the initial reports. The investigation also involved examining the suspicious vehicle and the ammunition found inside it.

Asia Nguyen-Duy appeared in court on October 29 and faced six counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and one count of tampering with evidence. A judge set bond at $3 million, and the case was sent forward to the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. Asia has pleaded not guilty. The charges remain allegations unless and until they are proven in court.

Beyond the criminal investigation, the deaths have deeply affected Oberlin College, where Pipo had taught since 1998. Born in Vietnam, he immigrated to the United States as a political refugee in 1975, when he was 13 years old. Over the years, he built an internationally recognized career as a photographer and artist, earning a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. His work explored themes of migration, identity, cultural assimilation and the lasting effects of war. The college described him as a cherished teacher and colleague whose creativity and mentorship had touched generations of students.

As news of his death spread, former students and colleagues shared tributes remembering Pipo not only for his artistic achievements but also for his generosity and personal warmth. Many recalled a professor who treated students with respect, encouraged their creativity and made them feel supported. The college community has been left grieving the loss of a teacher whose influence extended far beyond the classroom.

For investigators, the immediate task is to establish exactly what happened inside the family home and what led to the deaths of Pipo Nguyen-Duy and Tran Thi Phong. For the college community, the tragedy has left a painful absence. A respected educator who spent decades helping young artists find their voices is now being remembered by those whose lives he helped shape, while the criminal case against his child moves toward the next stage of the legal process.

Source: PEOPLE