An accused murderer fled the United States last month after obtaining a 48-hour pass from a mental health facility in Virginia. Previously, he had unsupervised visits and stayed in a taxpayer-funded apartment.
Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda left the U.S. on July 6 during one such weekend pass. He boarded a one-way flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to Tajikistan via Istanbul. The ticket was bought using an American Express card in his name, as court documents indicate.
Despite facing murder charges, Toshpulodzoda was allowed to leave the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) for up to two days. He stayed at an apartment provided by the Fairfax Permanent Supportive Housing Program, according to court records.
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The Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Falls Church was where Toshpulodzoda received treatment before leaving on this sanctioned pass. In 2019, he fatally stabbed Mohammad Hemmatian inside the victim’s home in Vienna, Virginia. Police found Toshpulodzoda covered in blood upon arrival.
A court found him not guilty due to insanity regarding the second-degree murder charge in 2022. Legal professionals, including a defense expert and an independent prosecutor expert, deemed him legally insane. Laura Birnbaum, chief of staff for Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, explained that without contradicting expert opinions, prosecution convictions are not possible.
As of June, a judge had ordered Toshpulodzoda not be released without further court instructions. Nonetheless, Virginia law permits certain mental health patients, including those accused of violence, temporary passes.
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The Internal Forensic Privileging Committee at NVMHI approved Toshpulodzoda for unaccompanied community visits. He could leave without hospital oversight for up to 48 hours at a time. This arrangement allowed his unsupervised visits, even preceding his escape.
In May 2024, Toshpulodzoda was escorted to the Tajikistan Embassy in Washington, D.C., to acquire a passport.
The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Homeland Security have been contacted by Fox News Digital for comments.
On Aug. 5, a month after leaving the country, the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office petitioned for an arrest warrant. “Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda was found by clinicians to be insane at the time he killed Mohammad Hemmatian, a legal finding that prevents the Commonwealth from securing a conviction,” stated the office.
Steve Descano, Fairfax County’s Commonwealth attorney, highlighted opposition to Toshpulodzoda’s release during yearly hearings in June. They issued a bench warrant following his escape, ensuring arrest and extradition if he reenters the U.S. Prosecutors opposed his release during hearings.
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