College professor and his wife shot dead by 31-year-old who knocked on neighbor's door with scratches on their face: Police

A 31-year-old in Ohio accused of killing their father and stepmother appeared in court, where prosecutors shared disturbing details about an apparent confession.

Asia Nguyen-Duy has been charged with multiple counts of murder and felonious assault, as well as tampering with evidence, according to Lorain County court records reviewed by Law&Crime.

Authorities identified the victims as 64-year-old Pipo Nguyen-Duy and 56-year-old Tran Thi Phong, regional NBC affiliate WKYC reported.

On Wednesday, the Oberlin Police Department said "an incident occurred this morning" that was "believed to be of a domestic nature." The agency said it arrested a suspect, and that the "incident involved a vehicle parked near the Oberlin Conservatory and a residence on South Pleasant Street."

Oberlin is about 35 miles southwest of Cleveland and home to Oberlin College, where Pipo Nguyen-Duy worked as a professor of studio art and photography.

The Oberlin Fire Department reportedly called police that morning because a vehicle was smoking by the college conservatory. Arriving officers found a 17-round Glock magazine and two 9 mm rounds and learned that Asia Nguyen-Duy was the registered owner of the vehicle.

Sometime that same morning, the suspect knocked on a stranger's door and asked the person who answered to record a video, prosecutor Zachary Simonoff said during the hearing, which included the defendant being carried into court. "He told her that he did not want the police involved. In the video, he identifies himself as Asia Nguyen-Duy, says he's escaping a cult and also says, 'Everything I did was on my own accord and I take full responsibility,'" Simonoff added.

Officers responded to a home on Shipherd Circle after being told about a "wet disheveled man." The suspect had scratches on their face and injuries to their arm and hand, according to authorities.

"He told the officers that he killed his family" and gave an address on South Pleasant Street, Simonoff told the judge, citing a police report. That address is less than a mile from Shipherd Circle.

Officers went to the South Pleasant Street residence and "found two people dead, apparently from gunshot wounds, with blood throughout the house," the prosecutor added. Police arrested the suspect.

Investigators have apparently not found the gun used in the shootings nor a fanny pack the suspect was supposedly wearing at the time of the alleged attack.

When investigators reached out to Asia Nguyen-Duy's mother in Oregon, she said her child "is currently psychotic and needs medication," per WKYC. The defendant was ordered to be held on a $3 million bond.

Asia Nguyen-Duy changed their name from Daniel Jones in 2025, per local CBS affiliate WOIO, and the suspect said they are gender neutral.

A motive for the alleged attack is unclear.