Mum 'poisoned son, wrapped his body in a sheet and dumped it at their old home'

A mum admitted poisoning her son with strong medication before wrapping up his body in a sheet and dumping it in a house, according to reports.

The body of 11-year-old Rafael Mateus Winques was found in a house in the town of Planalto in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 10 days after he was reported as missing by his mum Alexandra Dougokenski.

Local media reports say Dougokenski told police on May 16 that she woke up to find her son was not in his bed.

She claimed at the time that she had left the youngster in his room to sleep and woke to find him missing and the front door of the house was ajar.

Investigators initially believed he had run away from home but on May 22 forensic officers found blood in the home he shared with his mum and his 16-year-old brother.

Blood was also discovered in Rafael's stepdad's car.

The blood has been sent for analysis and the results have not yet been reported.

According to police, Rafael's body was discovered wrapped in a sheet in the family's old home in the same area on May 25.

Dougokenski was arrested and reportedly confessed that her son had died after she gave him strong medication because he suffered from emotional problems.

She is said to have admitted that she had then moved his body, according to reports.

Local police chief Nadine Anflor said the case appears to be "culpable homicide" but the charges will be clarified.

Anflor said she had applied for the Dougokenski to be held in preventive prison as the investigation continues.