Virginia man acquitted by insanity in killing flees US during 48-hour mental hospital pass
A Virginia man found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2019 killing fled the United States on a one-way flight to Tajikistan while on an approved 48-hour pass from a state mental health facility, according to court records.
Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda left the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) on July 6 for an authorized 48-hour pass. He was required to return two days later, but he never did, FOX 5 reported, citing court documents.
Instead, Toshpulodzoda traveled to Washington Dulles International Airport and boarded a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul before continuing to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, court documents show.
"The Acquittee failed to return to NVMHI on July 8, 2026, as required," the filing states.
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Toshpulodzoda was committed to the custody of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in 2022 after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of his landlord, Mohammad Hemmatian, according to FOX 5.
His departure came shortly after a judge determined he remained mentally ill and needed inpatient treatment.
"On June 29, 2026, this Court found that the Acquittee remained mentally ill and in need of inpatient hospitalization," court documents state.
Despite that finding, Virginia law allows mental health facilities to grant certain committed patients unaccompanied community visits lasting up to 48 hours, according to FOX 5.
NVMHI authorized Toshpulodzoda to leave on July 6. Court records show he left the approved placement and headed to Dulles instead of returning to the facility.
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Airline records attached to the court filing show a Turkish Airlines itinerary from Dulles to Istanbul and then to Dushanbe.
FOX 5 reported that Toshpulodzoda had previously been allowed to travel to Washington, D.C., in 2024 to obtain a passport, with support from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
After Toshpulodzoda failed to return, NVMHI placed him on escape status, revoked his pass and issued a facility warrant.
Virginia State Police and federal authorities were notified, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued an alert in case he attempted to return to the United States.
A bench warrant was later issued for his arrest, according to FOX 5.
"Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda was found by clinicians to be insane at the time he killed Mohammad Hemmatian – a legal finding that means the Commonwealth would be unable to secure a conviction at trial," the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office said in a statement.
"Following that 2022 finding, prosecutors have opposed his release at annual review hearings, including in June of this year, where a judge ordered that he continue to be confined in a state behavioral health facility. A bench warrant was issued immediately following notice that he had escaped custody, so if he enters the U.S., he will be arrested and brought to Virginia."
The Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute and Turkish Airlines could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.