A Virginia man, Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda, avoided returning to a state mental health facility after leaving on an authorized 48-hour pass, according to court records.
Toshpulodzoda had been committed to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in 2022. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the death of his landlord, Mohammad Hemmatian. Even though a judge noted he was still mentally ill, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) granted him permission to leave the facility.
On July 6, Toshpulodzoda got permission for a short trip outside the facility. He was supposed to return by July 8 but did not come back. Instead, court documents show he traveled to Washington Dulles International Airport. He boarded a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul, then continued to Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The Acquittee failed to return to NVMHI on July 8, 2026, as required,the court documents state.
Virginia law allows mental health facilities to grant certain patients unaccompanied visits for up to 48 hours. Despite Toshpulodzoda’s need for inpatient care, NVMHI allowed him out on July 6.
Airline records attached to the court filing confirm his itinerary from Dulles to Istanbul and then to Dushanbe. Toshpulodzoda previously received permission to travel to Washington, D.C., in 2024 to secure a passport.
Upon his failure to return, NVMHI labeled him as escaped, canceled his pass, and issued an arrest warrant. Virginia State Police, federal authorities, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were notified. A bench warrant for his arrest followed shortly after, with an alert in place if he returns to the U.S.
The Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office stated that Toshpulodzoda was ruled insane at the time of the crime. This legal status meant that a conviction at trial couldn’t be secured. Prosecutors have consistently opposed his release during annual reviews. After his escape, authorities acted swiftly to issue a bench warrant to ensure his arrest if he reenters U.S. territory.
The Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, and Turkish Airlines were unavailable for comment. Contact Sophia Compton at Fox News Digital for further tips.