Double murder in Oberlin: son charged after Oberlin College professor and stepmother shot dead

Daniel Jones, 31, faces six counts of murder after his father, Oberlin College professor Pipo Nguyen-Duy, and stepmother were found shot dead at their Ohio home.

Court hearing scheduled for man accused of killing father and stepmother in Oberlin

A 31-year-old man is set to appear in Oberlin Municipal Court after being charged with the murder of his father — a long-serving Oberlin College professor — and his stepmother, cleveland19.com reports.

Daniel Jones, of Ashland, Oregon, was taken into custody on Wednesday and is being held at the Lorain County Jail. He faces six counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, and one count of tampering with evidence.

The victims have been identified as Pipo Nguyen-Duy, 64, described by Oberlin College officials as "a beloved professor of studio art and photography at Oberlin for many years," and Thi Tran Phong, 56, Jones's stepmother.

Investigation triggered by a burning car

The chain of events began at 8:57 a.m. Wednesday, when Oberlin police responded to the college conservatory car park on College Street to assist firefighters dealing with a smouldering silver Toyota hatchback.

Officers found the vehicle had a boarded-up window, a pipe protruding from the roof, a wood-stove-type heater in the back seat, and a makeshift chimney. The source of the smouldering was traced to a cardboard box of miscellaneous items on the front seat.

Inside the car, investigators also found a suitcase, personal effects, the registered owner's wallet, passport, keys, and loose live ammunition rounds. The suspicious circumstances prompted police to search the surrounding area for Jones.

Victims found after welfare check

Officers located Jones at 10:19 a.m. in the 200 block of Shipherd Circle. Following a conversation with him, police proceeded to an address in the 30 block of South Pleasant Street to check on the welfare of his family members.

At 10:27 a.m., officers forced entry and discovered both victims. Nguyen-Duy was found on the first floor; Thi Tran Phong was found in a second-floor bedroom. Both had died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to police.

Jones was booked into the Lorain County Jail at 8:59 p.m. Wednesday.

College suspends Studio Art classes

Oberlin College confirmed that most classes would continue as normal on Thursday, with the exception of Studio Art sessions — the discipline taught by Nguyen-Duy. Officials stated that memorial arrangements had not yet been finalised, but that opportunities for the campus community to gather in remembrance of the professor would be made available.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)