Nancy Michaud, 37, was abducted from her home early Friday morning. Her body was found on Sunday in an abandoned house nearby. (CBC)

A Quebec man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a mother of two who worked for a provincial cabinet minister.

Quebec provincial police say Francis Proulx, 29, was arraigned Monday in Quebec City in the death of Nancy Michaud, 37.

He may face other charges — including kidnapping, confinement and robbery — when he appears in court Tuesday in Rivière-du-Loup, police said.

Michaud, who worked as a political assistant in the constituency office of Natural Resources Minister Claude Béchard, was taken from her home early Friday morning while her two young children slept.

Police tape surrounds the house where Nancy Michaud's body was found. (Francis Vachon/ Associated Press)

Police say there were signs of a violent struggle at the house, in the small town of Rivière-Ouelle, northeast of Quebec City. Her husband reported her missing when he arrived home after working late and discovered the children, a six-year-old and an 18-month-old, alone.

On Saturday, police released bank security video showing a masked person making a cash withdrawal early Friday morning. Money was taken from accounts belonging to Michaud and her husband.

Michaud's body was discovered in the basement of an abandoned house a few kilometres from her home. Police say her body showed signs of violence.

Quebec provincial police spokesman Claude Ross said two teenagers led police to the building, which had belonged to Proulx's grandmother, after noticing suspicious activity nearby.

Proulx lived around the corner from Michaud and joined in the initial search when she disappeared Friday, the CBC's Dan Halton reported.

Michaud's body was removed Monday morning and an autopsy will take place later this week.

Rivière-Ouelle Mayor Roger Richard says the town's 1,200 residents are shocked by the crime.

"She was extremely well-liked and gave a lot of her time as a volunteer," Richard said. "She had no enemies."

Michaud's boss, Natural Resources Minister Bechard, issued a statement of sympathy late Sunday.

"My thoughts and my support go out to Nancy's loved ones," said Bechard. "She was a mother, a friend and an extremely devoted employee. On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to her close friends, her husband, Daniel, their children and her family."

Quebec Premier Jean Charest also offered his condolences, calling her death an "inexplicable tragedy."

With files from the Canadian Press