Police investigator Felipe Neri says authorities in northeastern Brazil are on the lookout for the 22-year-old man. His mother's body was found on Monday in a rural area.

Neri says the man initially attacked his father, but eventually went after his mother after she tried to intervene.

Neri says the man allegedly picked up his mother's head and ran with it into a nearby wooded area.

The man was not being identified by police.

Neri said Tuesday the man had not taken medication for his mental disorder for the past week.