Broadway Actor's Father and Stepmother Found Dead; Brother Arrested

Quentin Nguyen-Duy, a rising actor who recently made his Broadway debut in Aaron Sorkin's "A Few Good Men," is experiencing a profound personal tragedy. His father, Pipo Nguyen-Duy, 64, and his stepmother, Thi Tran Phong, 56, were discovered dead from apparent gunshot wounds in their Ohio residence on Wednesday.

Adding to the devastating news, Quentin's non-binary sibling, Asia Nguyen-Duy, 31, of Oregon, was arrested in connection with the murders. Asia had to be physically carried into an Ohio courtroom on Friday by four officers after reportedly refusing to walk. Court documents indicated Asia's jail-issued pants were around his legs, exposing his underwear during the appearance.

Quentin, who has previously appeared in television shows such as "Law & Order: SVU" and "The Rookie," has not publicly commented on the deaths of his father and stepmother. He was, however, seen performing on the Lincoln Center Stage on Thursday for the opening night of the limited-run play, just a day after the discovery of the bodies.

Quentin's mother, Élan Chardin Gombart, stated, "All families involved are deeply grieving this tragedy and ask for privacy during this time. We hope going forward that all news is treated with compassion and discretion for all involved."

The investigation began when authorities were alerted to a vehicle fire in the Oberlin College Conservatory parking lot early Wednesday morning. Inside the vehicle, a silver Toyota hatchback, police found boarded-up windows, a wood stove, and a makeshift chimney. A wallet, passport, keys, ammunition, and packaging for a Glock were also discovered, though the firearm has not been recovered.

Police identified the vehicle as belonging to Asia Nguyen-Duy. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes later, Asia was apprehended near Shipherd Circle and taken to the Lorain County Jail. Around 10:30 a.m. that same day, Oberlin Police forced entry into Pipo Nguyen-Duy's home, where they found the couple deceased.

A neighbor, Greg Porson, told News 5 Cleveland that he saw a person he believes to be Asia emerge from a car, appearing disheveled and uneasy. The individual allegedly asked Porson for a ride to the library to "escape this cult" and requested that Porson record a video of him.

Prosecutors stated that a video exists in which Asia allegedly confesses to the killings, saying, "He says he’s escaping a cult. He also says everything I did was on my own accord, and I take full responsibility." When apprehended by police, Asia was reportedly covered in blood and scratches. Prosecutors also shared that Chardin Gombart described Asia as psychotic and in need of medication.

Asia has been charged with six counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, and one count of tampering with evidence. His bond has been set at $3 million, and he remains in custody. His lawyer, Jenifer Berki Merrill, confirmed that Asia now goes by his birth name.

Pipo Nguyen-Duy, a distinguished visual artist and professor at Oberlin College since 1998, was honored by the institution. A statement from Oberlin College described him as "a cherished teacher, artist, and colleague whose work and mentorship touched many lives." The college plans to host a gathering to commemorate both Pipo and Thi Tran Phong.

Pipo Nguyen-Duy immigrated to the United States from Vietnam at age 13 as a political refugee. His biography notes his early life included table tennis competitions and a period as a Buddhist monk in India before pursuing higher education in the U.S. He earned a Masters of Fine Art from the University of New Mexico and received a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship for photography in 2011. The Guggenheim Foundation has also mourned his passing.