A 48-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Victorian mother of two Karen Chetcuti, who suspiciously disappeared last week.

Police located a woman’s body in scrubland in north-east Victoria on Monday afternoon, and while police were yet to formally identify the body, it was believed to be the missing mother.

Ms Chetcuti was reported missing from her Whorouly home, near Wangaratta, last Tuesday.

• Body found in search for missing Victorian woman
• Man arrested over Vic mum’s disappearance
• Concerns for missing woman

The 48-year-old man was arrested alone in the Melbourne suburb of Ringwood on Sunday morning after a marathon pursuit through the city.

Karen Chetcuti was last seen last Tuesday night at the Whorouly Hotel. Photo: ABC/Victoria Police

Detectives and forensic experts extensively searched his property, scoured the nearby Ovens River and bushland near where Ms Chetcuti’s car was found.

The suspect was questioned by homicide detectives in Melbourne and driven to the north-east region on Monday. He was charged with murder at an out-of-sessions court hearing at about 1am on Tuesday.

A woman’s body was found at the Buffalo Lake weir wall, near Myrtleford, at about 1.35pm on Monday, Victoria Police said in a statement.

Ms Chetcuti, 49, and a mother of two teenagers, was last seen at the Whorouly Hotel at 7.30pm last Tuesday.

Police found the lights on at her home, with her bag and purse inside.

Ms Chetcuti’s car was found burnt out in bush near Myrtleford on Thursday, sparking the search of the area.

Her children, aged 14 and 15, were staying with their father.

The 48-year-old man is due to face Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court later on Tuesday.

– with AAP