The Infamous 'Starry Night Murderer' Got Out of Prison Early. Now He's Back Behind Bars By KC Baker 20

A former nightclub owner who was convicted of an infamous 1990 murder in Portland, Ore., and released early from prison is in trouble with the law once more.

On Friday, Jan. 16, Lawrence “Larry” Hurwitz, 71, of Oregon, known as the “Starry Night Murderer,” was arrested in Sandy and charged with fourth-degree assault of a domestic partner, harassment and a parole violation, according to Clackamas County online jail records.

According to court documents, Hurwitz is accused of unlawful and intentional harassment by means of offensive physical contact, KOIN 6, the Portland Tribune and Fox News report.

Hurwitz gained notoriety in 1990 when he murdered Tim Moreau, 21, who worked for him at the Starry Night Concert Hall, the nightclub Hurwitz owned in Portland.

Moreau’s body has never been found.

Authorities said Hurwitz killed Moreau to cover up a counterfeit ticket scheme at the nightclub, KOIN 6, Fox News, and the Portland Tribune report.

In 1998, eight years after Moreau was killed, Hurwitz was arrested and charged with murder. He pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced in 2000 to 11 years in prison. He was released in 2008.

In 2019, he was arrested in California for possession of 4.4 lbs. of cocaine and $328,000 in money he made from selling drugs, KOIN 6 reports.

He went to California without written permission, which he was not allowed to visit because of his parole terms for murdering Moreau, the Portland Tribune reports.

He pleaded guilty in 2021 and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

He ended up serving three and a half years in prison in California. He was returned in custody to Oregon in 2023.

When the Oregon Board of Parole was deciding whether to sentence Hurwitz to 180 days in jail for violating the conditions of his release, Moreau’s parents, Mike and Penny Moreau, said in a statement to the Portland Tribune: “Thirty-three years ago, our lives were terribly changed. Our hopes and dreams for our first-born son Tim were totally destroyed and for what reason: the greed of one man. 

“Both of us have had serious physical and mental health problems over these years. We still miss our son, a bright, upbeat adventurous redhead, who loved music and the outdoors. He was only 21 years old. What contributions might he have made to society?”

They continued, “In 2000 Hurwitz was given the benefit of a plea agreement rather than face a possible death sentence for the cruel, calculated, premeditated murder of our son.

“He agreed to an 11-year prison sentence and agreed to help find the body. Tim’s remains have never been found. Hurwitz also agreed to lifetime post-prison supervision. This is what he agreed to. This is what we expect to happen.”

The board sentenced him to three months in jail, the maximum punishment, the Portland Tribune reports. 

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Hurwitz is being held on $500,000 bond for the harassment charge.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 4. His trial is set for March 19.

It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.