A former Portland nightclub owner notorious for a high-profile murder case in the 1990s has found himself back behind bars, now facing accusations of domestic violence and violating his parole in Clackamas County.
Larry Hurwitz, infamously dubbed the “Starry Night Murderer,” was apprehended last week in Sandy, Oregon, following allegations of harassment and fourth-degree assault. Jail records indicate he has been detained due to a parole violation, with his bail set at a hefty $500,000.
The Oregon Board of Parole confirmed to Fox News Digital that Hurwitz remains under lifetime post-prison supervision for his murder conviction, with no additional convictions under their oversight. The Board revealed that a warrant had been issued in 2019, ultimately served in 2023, leading to Hurwitz’s extradition from California.
Previously, in August 2019, Hurwitz had his supervision revoked and served a 180-day sanction, according to Board records.
Hurwitz’s criminal notoriety stems from his 2000 conviction for the 1990 murder of Tim Moreau, a 21-year-old employee at Hurwitz’s Starry Night Concert Hall in northwest Portland. The case, which captivated the public, resulted in an 11-year prison sentence for Hurwitz.
Tim Moreau’s life was tragically cut short in 1990, a case that eventually led to the conviction of his employer, Larry Hurwitz. An undated photo of Moreau serves as a somber reminder of the events surrounding the Starry Night Concert Hall.
According to KPTV, the case was first exposed by veteran journalist Jim Redden in a 1990 Willamette Week investigative series titled “Missing and Presumed Dead.” The reporting examined the disappearance of Moreau, who worked as the promotions manager at the Starry Night club.
“He did in fact start this incredibly influential Starry Night club,” Redden told KPTV. “He could have climbed to the top of the entire business here in town. But he had this dark side that undermined everything he did.”
Larry Hurwitz enters a courthouse during a court appearance in an archival image. Hurwitz, a former Portland nightclub owner, was convicted in the 1990 murder of employee Tim Moreau. (KPTV)
Redden told the outlet that from the beginning, he believed Hurwitz was responsible for Moreau’s disappearance, describing Hurwitz as an aggressive businessman with a reputation for selling counterfeit concert tickets at his own venue.
Prosecutors later argued Hurwitz killed Moreau alongside another employee, George Castagnola, to prevent the ticket scheme from being exposed. Hurwitz ultimately entered a no-contest plea. Moreau’s body has never been found.
After Hurwitz’s early release from prison in 2008, Redden told KPTV that Hurwitz continued to have run-ins with law enforcement, including a 2019 drug trafficking case in California.
Family members of Tim Moreau walk together inside a courthouse in an archival image. Moreau was killed in 1990 in a case that later led to the conviction of former Portland nightclub owner Larry Hurwitz. (KPTV)
“He was arrested in California on a drug trafficking charge down in Huntington Beach, California, with four kilos of cocaine and $320,000 in cash and was convicted on that,” Redden said.
Redden told KPTV that while the current arrest appears less severe on its face, it could still have broader implications.
“On the surface, it is a much smaller arrest. It’s domestic violence,” Redden said. “But I don’t think that the full story has come out yet. The investigation is ongoing, and there could be some connections to previous cases.”
The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office told Fox News Digital it cannot comment on the specifics of the case, citing an ongoing investigation. Prosecutors said the parole violation process is separate from the criminal case and is handled outside the DA’s office.
Hurwitz is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 4. His trial is set for March 19.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
