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Man Found Insane in 2019 Killing Flees U.S. on 48‑Hour Mental‑Hospital Pass

The case reveals how court custody orders, hospital privileging rules, immigration removal can collide and leave enforcement gaps.

Overview

  • While on an approved unaccompanied 48‑hour pass, Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda boarded a one‑way flight from Dulles to Istanbul and then to Dushanbe on July 6 instead of returning to the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute.
  • Fairfax prosecutors filed court papers on Aug. 5 asking for an arrest warrant enforceable beyond Virginia after the facility placed him on escape status and a bench warrant was issued when he failed to return.
  • The Department of Homeland Security says Toshpulodzoda 'self‑departed' to Tajikistan that day in compliance with an immigration judge’s June removal order.
  • Hospital records show NVMHI’s forensic privileging panel and clinical team had approved unescorted community visits under Virginia law even though a June court order had said he 'shall not be released' from inpatient custody.
  • Victims’ families and advocacy groups are demanding accountability for the passport request, the use of a taxpayer‑funded supportive housing apartment during leave, and the limited role prosecutors have after a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity finding.