Ontario Provincial Police have charged a 61-year-old Alfred man with first-degree murder.
Daniel Lalonde appeared in court Friday, a day after police discovered the body of a woman at a property on Concession Road 5 near the village of Alfred.
Officers were responding to a gun-related call.
Police have identified the victim as Jacqueline Rouleau, 41, of Hawkesbury.
Both have a history of arrests for drug-related offenses.
Resident of the area, east of Ottawa, are surprised by the violence.
"Pretty shocking, to be honest, " said Eric Fournier.
"Things like that happen in the city.....but for here, it's pretty shocking."
Several properties in Alfred-Plantagenet have been secured by police as they search for evidence.
It's not clear how Lalonde and Rouleau knew each other, but this is not believed to be a case of domestic violence.