Man arrested after mother found dead in suspected domestic violence incident

A man has been arrested after a woman’s body was found at a Hunter Valley home on Friday night following a suspected domestic violence incident.

Police found the body of the 39-year-old woman at a home at Kearsley, near Cessnock, after a child walked 300 to 400 metres from the home seeking neighbours’ help, Hunter Valley Police District Commander Superintendent Steve Laksa said on Saturday.

Earlier on Saturday, detectives commenced a manhunt and made an appeal to the public to find 37-year-old Christopher James McLoughney, who lived with the 39-year-old woman and had been in an intimate relationship with her since June.

Police arrested McLoughney on Saturday night after he was spotted in Bellbird, six kilometres south-west of Cessnock.

Police seized a 2008 black Hyundai Tuscon SUV which allegedly had a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition inside. The man was taken to Cessnock police station, where he remains in custody.

Laksa described the death as a “traumatic incident”.

“I can only imagine the adverse impact this is going to have on community members and the family members,” he said.

Emergency services attended the Ettalong Street home in response to a domestic violence report at 7.30pm on Friday. Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District then arrived and established a crime scene.

Specialist forensic officers are now involved, and the State Crime Command’s homicide squad is assisting detectives with their investigation.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the woman’s cause of death.

NSW Police urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyond Blue 1800 512 348; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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