‘A void in the hearts of all who knew him’: Toronto’s first murder victim of the year fondly remembered

Darapheakdey “Daral” Sovann, 27, of Toronto, is the city's first murder victim of 2025. (TPS photo)

Toronto’s first homicide victim of 2025 is being remembered as someone who “always made everyone laugh” and “took care of everybody.”

In the early morning hours of Jan. 26, Toronto police responded to the area of Madison Avenue, just north of Bloor Street West, and found Darapheakdey “Daral” Sovann with “severe injuries.”

Officers administered first aid before paramedics arrived and rushed him to the hospital, but Sovann died there a short time later.

Last week, police announced that two people had been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the homicide.

However, no cause of death has been released and few other details are known about the case.

In an interview with CP24 this week, Sovann’s partner of three years Karissa Sookdeo said she still has more questions than answers but will remember him as the “love of her life” and someone who was helpful, reliable, and kind.

She also described Sovann as a “strong, independent” person who worked hard and took care of himself. He dreamed of one day becoming a police officer, she said.

On a crowdfunding page, Sookdeo said Sovann was someone who “could light up a room with his light-hearted attitude and unique sense of humour,” adding that his passing has “left a void in the hearts of all who knew him.”

“Rest in peace, Daral. Your kindness and spirit will live on in every heart you touched,” she wrote.

Sovann lived in the Forest Hill South area, near Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue West, and worked in the service department of an industrial equipment company, according to Sookdeo.

Originally from Cambodia, he had called Toronto home for more than a decade. Sovann came to the city near the end of high school and graduated from Downsview Secondary School before going on to study at Seneca College.

He was someone who enjoyed the simple things in life, Sookdeo said, like going out to eat tasty food, especially pho, taking long walks with their dog, Missy, and hanging out with his friends. He especially loved their cat, Tanjiro. Daral was also a handy person who liked making things, she shared.

Sookdeo says she had no idea why Sovann was in The Annex that fateful night and why his life came to such a violent end.

“I thought it was a prank at first, to be honest (when the police called me). You never expect to hear that the one you love has passed, especially in such a tragic way. … He didn’t deserve this,” she said.

“I just want to know what happened, but I’m also scared to know what happened. … I’m shocked to learn that some kind of encounter led to his passing.”

Sookdeo said she intends to attend the accused’s trial to both support and represent his family, but also to get the answers they’re all seeking.

In the near future, however, Sookdeo’s said her focus is on bringing Sovann’s mother, Ratana Kim, and his youngest brother, Darachetra Sovann, over to Canada from Cambodia to attend his funeral. The plan is to then make arrangements to transport Sovann’s ashes to his homeland for a proper send-off ceremony and burial.

Two Oshawa residents – 24-year-old Brooklynn Walsh and 21-year-old Cameron Brown – have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Sovann’s death.

A Toronto police media officer told CP24.com earlier this week that there are no new updates at this time on the ongoing investigation.