Stocco case shifts to murder investigation

Fugitive father and son Gino and Mark Stocco are being questioned by police in Dubbo after their capture, bringing a major police operation to a close.

Police will not comment on what possible charges they may face, or when charges could be laid.

"A lot hinges on what may or may not occur in that interview room," a NSW Police spokeswoman told AAP on Wednesday night.

"They are continuing to assist with inquiries."

Police are also investigating the death of a man whose body was found during the search of the rural NSW property where the pair was arrested on Wednesday afternoon.

The body of the man is yet to be formally identified, though he is believed to be the 68-year-old property caretaker who was reported missing on October 8.

The caretaker, named in media reports as Rosario Simone, may have been using the property, Pinevale, to cultivate cannabis and may have had links to Italian organised crime gangs, the Nine Network has reported. Police would not confirm either of those details on Wednesday night.

The property at Elong Elong, northeast of Dubbo, has been described as the perfect place to hide, though police have now revealed they had previously been to the property.

The Stoccos may have been doing some work at the property earlier this month, police believe.

Gino Stocco, 58, and his son Mark, 35, were captured following a tipoff from a person in Sydney which led them to the property.

In a further tipoff, a local reported seeing a suspicious vehicle parked in a nearby national park.

Heavily armed police had camped out overnight to surprise the two men.

The hunt for the dangerous duo had been stepped up two weeks ago after they allegedly shot at two police cars in Wagga Wagga earlier this month.

"Overall, this has been a very intense operation which has spanned a number of states," Acting Assistant Commissioner Clint Pheeney told reporters in Dubbo on Wednesday.

"Contrary to some media reports they did not surrender to police or hand themselves in."

Both men suffered injuries during their arrest and were treated at Dubbo Base Hospital before being returned to the police station.

Officers are continuing to search the 385-hectare property but have so far not located any weapons or ammunition.

"But the search continues. It is a large property and will take some time to be totally searched," Mr Pheeney said.

The hunt for the pair, who have been sought by police for eight years, included sightings of them across southern NSW and northeast Victoria.

There were also reports the pair stole a white Toyota LandCruiser and numberplates to aid their escape.

Gino Stocco's father Peter said his son's problems started a decade ago following marriage problems.

"He married the wrong woman," Peter Stocco told Fairfax Media.