Toronto police investigate homicide of missing man 2 years after his disappearance

More than two years after a man went missing in Scarborough, recent information led Toronto police to treat the case as a potential homicide.

Det. Sgt. Phillip Campbell said there is a “strong possibility that foul play was involved” in Taron Stepanyan’s disappearance.

“Our focus remains on finding Taron and determining what happened,” Campbell said at a news conference Saturday. “He had a son, he had a family. Right now, his family is devastated, keep in mind he’s been missing for two years …  so you can imagine the stress they are going through.”

Stepanyan, who was 40-years-old when he was reported missing, was last seen leaving his home in the Victoria Park Avenue and Sheppard Avenue E. area on the evening of Dec. 23, 2023, Toronto police said in a news release Saturday.

The circumstances now “meet the threshold” for a homicide investigation based on recent information, the release added. Officers will be canvassing the neighborhood to speak with residents Saturday.

There are currently no suspects and the investigation remains active, Campbell said.

Toronto police describe Stepanyan as being five feet 11 inches tall, weighing about 229 pounds, with short brown hair, a brown-and-grey beard and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.