Police searching for former partner of dead woman

Nelson police say there was no sign of a break-in at the home of a woman found dead in her Richmond home last night.

A homicide investigation is underway with around 20 detectives working on the case after she was found by a family member around 6:30pm.

Her family have told police she had recently ended a relationship with her partner.

Detective Inspector Geoff Jago says finding him is one of their focuses right now.

He says early indications are that the house was NOT broken into.

"There was no sign of a break in and the family member was able to let themselves in."

Police believe the woman was fatally assaulted up to 12 hours before her body was discovered.

Twenty detectives are working on the case and ESR teams are still at the scene.

It's understood the woman recently broke up with her partner.

Police are trying to locate him and also want to hear from anyone else with information that may help them.

Photo: NZ Herald