Stripper dies, found unconscious in strip club

September 2, 2008

WATERBURY, Conn. - Waterbury police say a 21-year-old exotic dancer, who died a day after she was found unconscious in a strip club over the weekend, may have died from a drug overdose.

Liane Berthiaume (BIRTH'-ee-ahm) of Waterbury was found unconscious Saturday in the bathroom of Mr. Happy's Cafe, a strip bar on Homer Street. She was taken to Waterbury Hospital where she died Sunday.

Police say an autopsy has been completed but the medical examiner is awaiting results from toxicology tests to determine the exact cause of death. Those tests could take several weeks.

Police are continuing to investigate the possibility that Berthiaume, the mother of a 22-month-old daughter, died from a drug overdose.