Updated 9:44 p.m.



An Aloha man is in custody after Washington County authorities found the decapitated and dismembered body of a woman stuffed inside two suitcases in the trunk of a luxury car, law enforcement sources told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The man, a suspect in the woman's death, tried to slash his throat and wrists before police arrested him late Thursday night, the sources said.

Washington County officials on Friday identified the woman as 28-year-old Sara Zghoul of Aloha.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed earlier that it received word of a possible homicide Thursday evening and later found parts of Zghoul's body inside a black BMW near Southwest Sarala Street and Hargis Road in Aloha.

Deputy Jeff Talbot, a sheriff's spokesman, declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.

According to sources, authorities learned of a possible suspect and tracked him down to a ravine near Southwest Murray Boulevard and Southwest Teal Boulevard.

That's when the man, who remains unidentified, tried unsuccessfully to kill himself, the sources said.

Beaverton police took the man into custody, Talbot said.

A Facebook page for Zghoul says she worked as an actress, model and voice-over artist. Her social media pages offer a glimpse into her life: She posted photos of her young son, selfies and playful memes.

One post on Instagram from fall 2016 suggested she was making strides in her life. She said she was grateful she wasn't homeless, hospitalized or in jail.

"'I don't know how my story will end but nowhere in the text will it read 'I gave up,'" she wrote. "'Life gets better if you want it to. And I love mine.'"

A woman who answered the phone at her family's residence declined to comment.

Natasha Thomas, a friend of Zghoul's brother, said on Twitter that she had known Zghoul for nearly 10 years, and that the woman had welcomed Thomas into her family without question.

"Sara was funny, kind and a great mother," she said. "She was the kind of person to give you the shirt off her back. Even in rough times, she was grateful."

Portland activist Gregory McKelvey said in a message to The Oregonian/OregonLive that he grew up in the same neighborhood as Zghoul, who was a few years older than him.

Everyone knew her family, he said, and Zghoul was funny and sweet.

"She was known for being a great person and she touched so many people," he said. "It felt like she knew everyone and losing her is a big loss for the community."

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh

skavanaugh@oregonian.com

503-294-7632 || @shanedkavanaugh

Anna Marum contributed to this story.

amarum@oregonian.com

503-294-5911

@annamarum