A teenage boy has been arrested after his mother was fatally stabbed in Melbourne.

The 41-year-old woman was found wounded at her home on Stafford Street in Abbotsford just after 11pm on Wednesday.

She was taken to hospital but died shortly after.

Police launched a search for the victim’s 15-year-old son and another 14-year-old boy after the pair left the address in a Toyota RAV4.

The boys were arrested in Learmonth, near Ballarat, 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 told reporters.

The boys, who are believed to be schoolmates, were seen in the St Kilda Junction area about 11.20pm.

Their vehicle 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.

Det Acting Supt Thomas said the boy was the one who contacted emergency services. 

“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 the stabbing or has information about it should contact police. 

By Tara Cosoleto and Cassandra Morgan in Melbourne