A son accused of killing and then gruesomely butchering his clown dad before dumping his body parts in a river has been seized by police.

Victim Cicero de Sousa Guedes, known as Chumbrega, or Cheesy Chum, to fans, had disappeared from the family home in Sao Mateus do Sul, in the state of Parana, Brazil on 9th May.

When his family could not contact him they called in police, who found the 49-year-old funnyman's cut-up body parts floating in black bin liners in the nearby Iguacu River.

Police say his son Gustavo confessed to the grim killing and told how he ferried the body parts to the river in the family car.

Gustavo's sister, who lives in Curitiba, reportedly told police she suspected him after he refused to answer questions about their dad's sudden disappearance.

She told police: "He said our father had gone to a nearby town, but that didn't make sense."

Officers later found bloodstains all over the family home and in the car used to transport the butchered remains.

CCTV security footage is said to show the car stopping near the river where the bags were dumped.

Police believe the motive for the brutal killing was an ongoing family feud.

Cicero was a children's favourite at performances with his trademark red and silver bowler had and bright red nose.

The suspect remains in custody while police continue investigating the murder.