Son arrested on $3 million bail after father and stepmother found shot dead in Ohio home

Daniel Jones was held on $3 million bail after an initial court appearance on Thursday. The 31-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the shooting deaths of his father and stepmother. Authorities charged him with six counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, and one count of tampering with evidence. He did not enter a plea.

The victims were Pipo Nguyen-Duy, 64, and his wife, Tran Thi Phong, 56. They were found shot to death inside their home in Oberlin, a city in north Ohio near Lake Erie. Nguyen-Duy had served as the studio art chair at Oberlin College for nearly 30 years. He migrated from Vietnam to the United States in 1975 as a political refugee and was recognized as a Guggenheim fellow.

Oberlin police responded to a report of a car fire in a parking lot on the college grounds that morning. Investigators discovered a Toyota hatchback with Oregon license plates registered to Jones at the scene. Before locating Jones, officers found his wallet, passport, and ammunition inside the vehicle.

Following the arrest, officers conducted a wellness check at the couple's home. After forcing entry, they discovered both victims deceased. Jones was located approximately one mile from the house more than an hour later. Police said they acted on a call from a resident who reported a wet, disheveled man at her front door. He was taken into custody without incident.

Officials noted that Jones had cuts on his face and injuries to his hand and arm during the arrest. His lawyer, Jenifer Berki Merrill, stated that he prefers to go by his birth name, Asia Nguyen-Duy. Oberlin police contacted Jones’s mother in Oregon, who reported that he had a mental illness and required medication. Her name was not released.

Police are currently investigating the motive behind the killings. The case has drawn attention to the sudden loss of a long-time faculty member who was highly respected within the college community.