A man accused in the 2018 death and dismembering of an Aloha woman whose remains were found in a car is now accused of trying to hire someone to kill a witness in the case, court records show.

Jeremiah W. Johnston, 36, was indicted on new charges related to the killing of 28-year-old Sara Zghoul in December and is now accused of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, murder, first-degree abuse of a corpse, second-degree kidnapping, criminal conspiracy of a felony and solicitation.

A prior indictment accusing Johnston of murder and first-degree abuse of a corpse was dismissed also last month.

Washington County prosecutors allege Johnston solicited another man and offered him money to kill a third man, according to the latest indictment. Johnston has been held in the Washington County Jail since being booked Jan. 31, 2018. He is accused of soliciting the killing of the prosecutor’s witness between May and July, the indictment said.

Further details of the alleged plot weren’t immediately available.

Johnston was apprehended Jan. 25, 2018, after Zghoul’s remains were found inside two suitcases in a car near Johnston’s parents’ home, authorities said. He was taken to a hospital after cutting himself, including on his throat.

Johnston was booked into jail six days later. Police haven't said what led to Zghoul's death and it isn't clear if Johnston and Zghoul knew each other. Public records show homes belonging to their families are located about a half-mile from each other in Aloha.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey

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