The partner of a young mum has been seized by police after the woman and the couple’s baby son were found with their throats slashed.

The grim discovery was made by police in Blumenau, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, on 25th July, after they forced their way into the family apartment.

Police say the body of three-month-old baby Theo Pereira was found on the bed.

Mum Jessica Mayara Ballock, 23, was also in the locked room.

Her partner – identified as 28-year-old Kelber Henrique Pereira – was arrested two days later 10 hours away by car in Paulinia, Sao Paulo state.

The couple’s 23-month-old son was found safe with his paternal grandparents in neighbouring Minas Gerais state.

Police spokesman Ronnie Esteves said officers had “entered the apartment and, at the entrance, identified drops of blood”.

He added: “The victims were found inside a room, which was locked. The baby was on top of a bed.”

The autopsy report is still pending, but Esteves said the victims had throat wounds and police had seized a bloodied knife from the flat.

During questioning, Pereira reportedly confessed to the crime but said he had been drinking and using drugs and did not remember committing it.

He claimed the only thing he could recall was seeing his home covered in blood.

Afterwards, he said, his only thought was to “pick up my other young son and take him to his grandmother’s house”.

He claimed to police he had fled to Paulinia to seek help at a rehab centre.

But a pal of the victim, who chose to remain anonymous, told local media Pereira had been controlling and banned Jessica from seeing her friends.

She said the couple often fought but Pereira always “promised to improve and change”.

However, she added that she had never seen or heard of Pereira behaving aggressively towards the young woman.

The friend said: “We tried everything to push him away, but she loved him and chose, several times, to give him another chance.”

The last time the family had been seen alive together was at Jessica’s father’s house on Saturday.

Police believe the killings took place between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

They said the suspect had previously been booked for crimes against property and embezzlement.

According to local media, he had once been arrested for stealing a car in Braganca Paulista, Sao Paulo state, where his family lives.

The investigation is ongoing and a judicial request has been made to keep the alleged killer in custody.