Virginia Homicide Patient Flees U.S. After Court-Approved Passport Trip
Abdulloi Doniyor Toshpulodzoda, confined after a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict in a Fairfax County homicide, fled the United States after a court-approved trip to update his Tajik passport in July 2026.[1]
He left the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute on a second community pass, reached Dulles International Airport and flew to Dushanbe, Tajikistan via Turkey using the passport he had obtained.[1] Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano's office says it did not oppose the escorted embassy visit but has repeatedly opposed Toshpulodzoda's full release at annual hearings.[1] Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and the advocacy group Virginians for Safe Communities blasted Descano, calling the handling of the passport and community passes a serious public-safety failure.[1]
On May 29, 2024, a Fairfax County prosecutor and a defense attorney jointly obtained court permission for Toshpulodzoda to travel with staff from the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute to the Tajik embassy in Washington, D.C., to update his passport. Toshpulodzoda had been found not guilty by reason of insanity in the killing of his landlord, Mohammad Hemmatian, and was held at NVMHI under county and court supervision.
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📌 Key Facts
- On May 29, 2024, a Fairfax County prosecutor and defense attorney jointly obtained court permission for Abdulloi Doniyor Toshpulodzoda to travel with staff from Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute to the Tajik embassy in Washington, D.C., to update his passport.
- Toshpulodzoda had been found not guilty by reason of insanity in the killing of his landlord, Mohammad Hemmatian, and was confined at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute under county and court supervision.
- In July 2026, he was granted a second community pass, left NVMHI, reached Dulles International Airport and flew to Dushanbe, Tajikistan via Turkey using the passport he had obtained.
- Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano's office confirms it did not oppose the escorted embassy visit but says it has repeatedly opposed Toshpulodzoda's full release at annual hearings.
- Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and advocacy group Virginians for Safe Communities publicly criticized Descano, calling the handling of Toshpulodzoda's passport and passes a serious public-safety failure.
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