An accused murderer left the United States for Tajikistan on July 6 while authorized to take a 48-hour pass from a Virginia psychiatric facility. Court records indicate that he had previously been allowed to leave without hospital supervision and stay in an apartment provided through a taxpayer-funded supportive housing program. The departure occurred despite a judge’s recent order that he remain in custody and inpatient hospitalization. Prosecutors later sought an arrest warrant after learning that he had left the country.
The case involves Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda, who was committed to a state psychiatric facility after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2019 killing of Mohammad Hemmatian in Vienna, Virginia.
| 1) | The international departure from Virginia |
| 2) | Access to unsupervised housing and community visits |
| 3) | The murder case and insanity finding |
| 4) | Court orders, Virginia law and institutional approval |
| 5) | Arrest warrant and potential return to Virginia |
The international departure from Virginia
Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda departed the United States on July 6 while on a 48-hour pass from the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Falls Church. He boarded a one-way Turkish Airlines flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to Tajikistan, traveling through Istanbul. Court records state that the ticket was purchased in his name with an American Express card.
The flight took him to his native Tajikistan during a period when he was permitted to leave the facility temporarily. The circumstances raised questions about how a patient committed after a violent criminal case was able to travel internationally while outside the hospital. The available records identify the authorized pass and the subsequent departure, but do not detail how he reached the airport or whether officials had advance notice of his travel plans.
Access to unsupervised housing and community visits
Before leaving the country, Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda had been permitted to take unsupervised visits lasting up to 48 hours. During those visits, he could stay at an Alexandria apartment made available through the Fairfax Permanent Supportive Housing Program, according to court records.
The arrangement meant that he could leave the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute without hospital staff accompanying him. The facility’s Internal Forensic Privileging Committee had approved unaccompanied community visits, and that authorization remained active in the period before his departure. In May 2024, he was also allowed to visit the Tajikistan Embassy in Washington with an escort to obtain a passport, a step that enabled international travel documentation.
The murder case and insanity finding
In 2019, police responding to a home in Vienna found Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda covered in blood after Mohammad Hemmatian had been fatally stabbed inside the residence. Toshpulodzoda was later found not guilty by reason of insanity on a second-degree murder charge and was committed to a state psychiatric facility in 2022.
The legal finding followed evaluations by a defense expert and a separate independent expert for the prosecution. Laura Birnbaum, chief of staff for Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, said the prosecution’s expert also determined that Toshpulodzoda was legally insane. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office explained the consequence of that finding:
“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.”
Court orders, Virginia law and institutional approval
A judge determined as recently as June that Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda should not be released from custody and inpatient hospitalization without another court order. Prosecutors said they opposed his release during annual review hearings that month.
Virginia law nevertheless allows certain patients committed to psychiatric facilities, including people accused of violent crimes, to receive temporary day or weekend passes. In this case, the facility committee’s approval for unaccompanied visits remained in effect. That authorization allowed the 48-hour leave under which Toshpulodzoda traveled, even though the court had separately ordered that he remain in custody and hospitalized.
Arrest warrant and potential return to Virginia
On Aug. 5, about one month after the departure, the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office asked a judge to issue an arrest warrant. The office said a bench warrant was issued immediately after officials learned that Toshpulodzoda had escaped custody.
Prosecutors said the warrant is intended to ensure that he is arrested and extradited to Virginia if he reenters the United States. The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security were contacted for comment, but the report provided no responses from those agencies.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda flew from Washington Dulles to Tajikistan through Istanbul on July 6. |
| 2 | He had authorization for unsupervised 48-hour community visits and access to an Alexandria supportive housing apartment. |
| 3 | He had been found not guilty by reason of insanity after the 2019 killing of Mohammad Hemmatian. |
| 4 | Prosecutors requested an arrest warrant on Aug. 5 and said he would be arrested if he returned to the United States. |
Summary
The case highlights the interaction between Virginia’s psychiatric commitment system, court orders and statutory permissions for temporary community leave. Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda used an authorized 48-hour pass to leave a mental health facility and travel to Tajikistan, despite a recent order requiring continued custody and hospitalization. Prosecutors have pursued a warrant and said it would support his arrest and extradition if he returns to the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda?
Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda is a man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after being accused of fatally stabbing Mohammad Hemmatian in Virginia in 2019. He was committed to a state psychiatric facility in 2022.
When did he leave the United States?
He left on July 6, traveling from Washington Dulles International Airport to Tajikistan through Istanbul on a one-way ticket.
Why was an arrest warrant sought?
The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office sought the warrant after learning that he had left the country while on a 48-hour pass. Prosecutors said the warrant would allow for his arrest and extradition if he reenters the United States.
