Man found not guilty by reason of insanity flees U.S. during 48-hour hospital pass
Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda left a Virginia mental health facility on an authorized 48-hour pass and flew to Tajikistan, court records show.
Court documents reviewed by FOX 5 say Toshpulodzoda left the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute on July 6 and did not return as required on July 8. The filing states, “The Acquittee failed to return to NVMHI on July 8, 2026, as required.”
Airline records attached to the court filing show a Turkish Airlines itinerary from Washington Dulles International Airport to Istanbul and then to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the court records show. FOX 5 reported that Toshpulodzoda had previously been allowed to travel to Washington to obtain a passport in 2024 with support from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Toshpulodzoda was committed to 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, FOX 5 reported. Court documents say a judge on June 29, 2026, found he remained mentally ill and in need of inpatient hospitalization, but Virginia law allows certain committed patients unaccompanied community visits lasting up to 48 hours.
After Toshpulodzoda failed to return, NVMHI placed him on escape status, revoked his pass and issued a facility warrant, court records and FOX 5 reported. Virginia State Police and federal authorities were notified, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued an alert and a bench warrant was later issued, the filings say. “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. The office added that prosecutors have opposed his release at annual review hearings and that a bench warrant was issued immediately after authorities were notified of his escape.
The Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute and Turkish Airlines could not immediately be reached for comment, Fox News Digital reported.
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