A manhunt has come to an end as police arrested a 37-year-old after the discovery of a woman's body.
A sawn-off shotgun and ammunition were allegedly found in the man's car when NSW Police took him into custody in the Hunter Valley region on Saturday night.
The arrest came after emergency services were called to a home in Kearsley on Friday night.
Officers found a 39-year-old woman, who is yet to be formally identified, dead at the residence.
Police on Saturday alerted the public that they wanted to speak with a man before they received a tip that he had been seen in Bellbird.
Hunter Valley Superintendent Steve Laksa said the death of the woman had involved a "traumatic incident".
"It was quite horrific for family members, all involved, and her three children," he told reporters on Saturday.
One of the children is understood to have run to a neighbour's property to find help.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
