A Virginia man, deemed not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2019 homicide case, evaded the United States on a one-way trip to Tajikistan during an approved temporary leave from a state mental health facility.

Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda departed the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) on July 6 for a sanctioned 48-hour pass. He was scheduled to return two days later, but failed to do so, as mentioned in court documents.

Instead, Toshpulodzoda proceeded to Washington Dulles International Airport and boarded a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul, with a subsequent transfer to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, per court records.

The Acquittee failed to return to NVMHI on July 8, 2026, as required, the documents state.

Toshpulodzoda was under the care of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in 2022 after a verdict of not guilty by insanity in the case of his landlord, Mohammad Hemmatian.

His exit followed a judge’s decision that he remained mentally ill and needed ongoing inpatient care.

Virginia law permits mental health facilities to grant specific patients unsupervised community outings, which can last up to 48 hours. Thus, NVMHI allowed Toshpulodzoda’s leave on July 6; however, he diverted to Dulles instead of returning.

According to historical travel permissions, in 2024, Toshpulodzoda was allowed to visit Washington, D.C., to secure a passport with support from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Upon his failure to return, NVMHI classified him as escaped, revoked his pass, and issued a facility warrant. Notifications were sent to Virginia State Police, federal authorities, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to alert them in case he attempted re-entry into the U.S.

A bench warrant for his arrest was later authorized.

The Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office clarified that Toshpulodzoda was found legally insane when he killed Hemmatian, ruling out a conviction at trial. Following the 2022 ruling, prosecutors consistently opposed his release during annual reviews.

A judge reaffirmed his confinement at a state behavioral health facility in the June hearing. Yet, subsequent to his escape, a bench warrant ensured his arrest upon any U.S. re-entry.

Attempts to reach the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, and Turkish Airlines for comments were unsuccessful.