‘I literally thought he was going to die’: Family of Colonial Heights man distraught after he left nursing home in poor shape

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (WRIC) — A doctor is facing an abuse and neglect charge after a schizophrenic man with serious injuries was able to leave a Colonial Heights rehabilitation and nursing center, against medical advice, with a catheter and a colostomy bag still in place.

This same nursing center is currently under investigation for elder abuse after a patient died. The incident resulted in over a dozen arrests.

In this new, separate investigation, 59-old Gohar Abbasi of Chesterfield County was arrested and charged with abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult with a bodily injury or disease on Thursday, Jan. 16. He was then released on a bond set at $2,500 that same day with the condition of not being permitted to leave the Commonwealth.

However, court documents indicate a bond motion was granted on Jan. 21 -- without objection -- for Abbasi to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan from Jan. 23 to Feb. 14 to visit his elderly parents and attend his niece's wedding

The victim is 33-year-old Timothy Holton of Colonial Heights, who court records indicate is a well-known homeless man who walks around the city of Colonial Heights daily.

"He's ... oh, like a ball of joy, he's so funny, he's a character," said Krystal Crawford, Holton's close loved one whom he refers to as his sister-in-law. "He likes to be the jokester but he's like a big teddy bear — to people who actually know him, he's the most loving person ever."

Timothy Holton [right] and a loved one, Wanda [left]. (Photo: Krystal Crawford)

Timothy Holton. (Photo: Krystal Crawford)

Crawford told 8News that, between 2017 to 2018, Holton was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

He was also in a car accident in mid-November 2024 that left him very injured. It's here where the series of events that ultimately led to Abbasi's alleged crime began.

Court records indicate Holton had displaced pubic rami fractures, a left sacral fracture, a large amount of blood in his pelvis, a nondisplaced T5-T6 spinous process fracture and many other serious injuries.

According to court documents, Holton was treated at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center before he was transferred to the Hanover Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Holton was transferred once again to Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for long-term care -- but Crawford said her family was not notified of this.

On Saturday, Jan. 11, Crawford said Holton left the hospital.

"He walked out of the Colonial Heights rehab at seven in the morning — they let him sign himself out ... I don't know why, when he was found incompetent at VCU," Crawford said, adding that, because of his schizophrenia, he wasn't fully aware of how severe his injuries were.

Crawford said she and her sister were told between noon and 1 p.m. on Saturday. They began to search for Holton.

"I literally thought he was going to die," she said.

Crawford eventually found him on Sunday, Jan. 12, in what she described as a "cubby" at a local church.

According to court documents, the Colonial Heights Police Department received numerous calls in reference to checking the welfare of Holton.

Documents state Holton left the hospital with a catheter and a colostomy bag still in place. Residents reported to local authorities that they saw biohazard fluids coming out of the bags.

"It's a huge danger -- maybe not to his mental health, [but his] medical well-being," Crawford said. "In that bag alone, he could get sepsis within 24 hours, if it backs up."

Citizens added that Holton could barely walk -- he was stumbling and, while he was not falling down, his steps were very unsteady.

Holton's family confirmed he is positive for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, an infectious disease.

According to court documents, Abbasi of the Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center was contacted on Tuesday, Jan. 14 about Holton. He reportedly stated that Holton "was of sound mind and signed himself out of the facility AMA [against medical advice]."

However, documents continue with: "Dr. Abbasi never physically saw Timmy to make this determination."

Documents also state that Abbasi said that Holton should have been taken to a hospital to be evaluated -- but Abbasi never attempted to contact the police department, nor swore out a medical Emergency Custody Order (ECO) for Holton.

Court records state Abbasi said he didn't know what a medical ECO was.

Records indicate Abbasi has been a doctor for more than 30 years, with private practice experience of 25 years.

"I even know what an ECO is, and I'm not a physician," Crawford said. "As a doctor, that's something you should know. You should be educated on an ECO and a TDO [temporary detention order], because there's many people who need it, whether it be [for] mental health or medically."

Court records add a nurse contacted Abbasi about Holton's condition and that he signed himself out, but Abbasi could not remember the nurse he spoke to.

"It's really frustrating because, how can you just -- if anyone read [Holton's] medical chart, they would know his diagnosis and everything he's been through -- just at VCU alone -- since November, and they would know that he's not capable of leaving and he could barely walk," Crawford said.

Court records indicate police were able to issue an ECO for Holton on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Crawford and her family are hoping he will be able to get stable and come home.

8News reached out to the Colonial Heights Commonwealth's Attorney Office and was told the office cannot comment on the matter, as it is a pending case.

A spokesperson for the Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center told 8News they also could not comment on the matter as the investigation is pending.

Abbasi's attorney provided 8News with a statement reading, in part: "Dr. Abbasi maintains his innocence and we plan to contest these charges at his preliminary hearing in March."

This is a developing story. Stick with 8News for updates.