ST. STEPHEN, N.B. -- RCMP have confirmed that a body found Thursday in western New Brunswick is that of a missing woman and have charged her son with second-degree murder in her death.

They say 34-year-old Matthew Linus Tucker appeared Friday in St. Stephen provincial court on the charge.

His mother, 53-year-old Dorothy Tucker of Oak Haven, was last heard from on Nov. 9.

Police said early on they suspected foul play in the woman's disappearance and launched an extensive search as her family pleaded for information.

Hunters found a body Thursday in a wooded area in St. David Ridge, but police could not immediately identify the body's gender, age or identity.

The accused will remain in custody until a court appearance scheduled for Dec. 17.