James Uhr, 27, was found about 7.15pm on Wednesday, when police from Wollongong Local Area Command were alerted after a home owner located the dead man at the back of the property.

A vehicle stolen earlier in the day was located a short distance away and has been seized for forensic examination.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

On Wednesday, police held a press conference appealing for assistance to locate Uhr after he allegedly attacked his mother in Balgownie.

Detective Inspector Brad Ainsworth said that around 7:40am, Uhr stole a Ford ute from a petrol station at Cringila  and headed for Wollongong.

Police attempted to pull over the vehicle, but it allegedly rammed a number of other vehicles in the North Wollongong area and sped off.

Detective Ainsworth said Uhr went to Farrell Street in Balgownie, where his mother lives.

He chased her down the street as she drove away and then rammed her off the road onto a footpath, police allege.

Detective Ainsworth said Uhr approached the car, opened the door and punched his mother in the head and mouth for about 25 seconds.

He escaped the scene in a car owned by a bystander.

The woman has been hospitalised with serious facial injuries and will likely require surgery.

For a more comprehensive list of support services, visit www.suicidepreventionaust.org and click on Get Help.