Two teenage boys have been arrested after the mother of one of them was found dead in inner-city Melbourne.
The 41-year-old woman was fatally stabbed at her Stafford Street home in Abbotsford just after 11pm on Wednesday.
She was taken to hospital but died shortly after.
Police launched a manhunt for the victim’s 15-year-old son and another 14-year-old boy after the pair left the Abbotsford address in a Toyota RAV 4.
They were arrested in Learmonth, near Ballarat – about 135 kilometres from where the woman was found – on Thursday afternoon.
“They will now be interviewed by homicide squad detectives to determine their involvement and what has gone on in relation to this incident,” Detective Acting Superintendent Dean Thomas said.
The boys – who are believed to be school mates – were seen in the St Kilda Junction area about 11.20pm.
Their RAV 4 was then found abandoned on Havelock Street about 7.30am on Thursday.
It’s unclear how the boys made their way to regional Victoria.
The woman’s 13-year-old son was also at the property at the time of the stabbing although he was not physically injured.
Detective Acting Superintendent Thomas said the boy was the one who contacted emergency services.
Emergency services were called to the Abbotsford home just after 11pm on Wednesday.
“It’s very, very early but the persons involved at this stage are not known to police and we just need to piece it all together to be able to understand what’s gone on,” he said.
Police are not looking for any other suspects.
Anyone who witnessed or has information about the stabbing should contact police.
