Patron dies in private room of strip club

Toxicology tests should reveal the cause of his death.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD, Times Staff Writer
Published December 27, 2007

PORT RICHEY - Until the tragic finish, Jason Transue was having quite a night at the strip club.

The 28-year-old went to the Brass Flamingo, an all-nude gentleman's club on U.S. 19, about 8 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

He sat near the center stage to take in the entertainment. Dancer Vicky Gloria noticed he was spending money freely, so she invited him to the "Champagne Room" for a private dance.

He accepted.

Transue paid for one 30-minute dance, then wanted another, and another.

The private session lasted more than two hours. All the while, Transue was "drinking heavily," Gloria told investigators. About 1 a.m., she asked some male employees to move Transue to another room so he could sleep.

Club employees checked on him periodically, according to an investigator's report. At 2 a.m., someone noticed he had no pulse and was not breathing. A manager called 911.

But Transue was already dead.

He was a health care technician with no criminal record. He lived in Hudson, where a roommate told investigators Transue's only family lived in New York.

Pasco sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said there were no signs of foul play. Toxicology tests will be performed to determine Transue's cause of death. Results could take up to six weeks. Gloria told investigators she did not see him take any drugs.

"It's not very often," Tobin said, "that we have somebody go in the Brass Flamingo and wind up deceased."

Molly Moorhead can be reached at moorhead@sptimes.com or 727 869-6245.

[Last modified December 26, 2007, 20:14:02]