True Crime Docuseries Explores Grisly Murder at Historic Louisville Mansion

The cocreators of RuPaul's Drag Race bring a shocking killing to HBO in "Murder in Glitterball City"

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A new HBO docuseries, "Murder in Glitterball City," explores a 2009 homicide that took place in a historic Louisville, Kentucky mansion with a dark past. The series is directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the producers behind "RuPaul's Drag Race." The crime involves a love triangle between Jeffrey Mundt, Joseph Banis, and Jamie Carroll, a former hair salon owner and drag performer, that ended in Carroll's violent death and burial in the mansion's wine cellar.

Why it matters

The case shares themes with the filmmakers' previous true crime project, "Party Monster," involving drugs, gay men, and homicide. Bailey and Barbato aim to approach the story with empathy for all involved, rather than sensationalism. The historic mansion where the crime occurred has a history of violence, adding an eerie element to the case.

The details

After moving to Louisville for a tech job, Jeffrey Mundt purchased the 113-year-old Richard Robinson house, which had previously operated as a sanatorium. In late 2009, Mundt, his boyfriend Joseph Banis, and Jamie Carroll, a local meth dealer and drag performer, engaged in group sex at the mansion. During the encounter, Carroll was fatally stabbed and shot. Mundt and Banis then stuffed Carroll's body into a storage bin and buried it in the wine cellar, where it remained for several months. The pair maintained an "incredibly intimate, dynamic relationship" until Mundt called 911, claiming Banis was about to attack him. When police arrived, Banis confessed to the body in the basement.

  • In late 2009, Mundt, Banis, and Carroll engaged in the fatal group sex encounter.
  • In June 2010, Mundt called 911 claiming Banis was about to attack him, leading to the discovery of Carroll's body.

The players

Jeffrey Mundt

Purchased the historic Richard Robinson house in Louisville, where the murder took place.

Joseph Banis

Mundt's boyfriend, a bartender with a criminal history who was involved in the murder.

Jamie Carroll

A former hair salon owner and drag performer who was killed during the group sex encounter at the mansion.

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato

The directors and producers of the new HBO docuseries "Murder in Glitterball City," known for their work on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and other true crime projects.

David Dominé

Author of the 2021 book "A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City," on which the documentary is based.

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What they’re saying

“We're empathetic people. We're all about what we have in common and humanity of people.”

— Randy Barbato, Director/Producer (Vanity Fair)

What’s next

The documentary "Murder in Glitterball City" premieres on HBO on February 19, 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex dynamics and tragic outcomes that can arise from the intersection of drugs, sexuality, and violence, even in historic settings. The filmmakers' approach of seeking empathy for all involved, rather than sensationalism, aims to provide a more nuanced exploration of the humanity behind the headlines.