Bizarre Murder Case Shakes Louisville's Historic LGBTQ Neighborhood

New HBO documentary 'Murder in Glitterball City' explores the gruesome killing and its impact on the Old Louisville community.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The two-part HBO documentary 'Murder in Glitterball City' is not just the story of a gruesome murder, but a portrait of the city of Louisville, Kentucky, the historic Old Louisville neighborhood, and the home where the crime took place. The film follows the 2010 killing of James 'Jamie' Carroll, whose body was found entombed in a rubber bin buried in the basement of a home owned by Jeffrey Mundt. Mundt and his ex-boyfriend Joseph 'Joey' Banis were charged with the murder, each accusing the other. The documentary delves into the toxic relationship between Mundt and Banis, as well as the history and eccentricities of the Old Louisville neighborhood, which has long served as an enclave for the LGBTQ community.

Why it matters

True crime documentaries have increasingly used the physical locations of crimes as central characters, and 'Murder in Glitterball City' takes this phenomenon to a new level. The film is as much about the bizarre murder case as it is about painting a vivid portrait of the Old Louisville neighborhood, its history, and the impact the crime had on the tight-knit LGBTQ community that calls it home.

The details

In 2010, the body of James 'Jamie' Carroll was found entombed in a rubber bin buried in the basement of a home at 1435 South Fourth Street in Louisville's Old Louisville neighborhood. The homeowner, Jeffrey Mundt, and his ex-boyfriend, Joseph 'Joey' Banis, were charged with Carroll's murder, with each accusing the other. The documentary explores the toxic relationship between Mundt and Banis, as well as the history and quirks of the Old Louisville neighborhood, which has long served as an enclave for the city's LGBTQ community.

  • In 2010, Carroll's body was discovered buried in the basement of a home in Old Louisville.
  • Mundt and Banis were charged with Carroll's murder shortly after the discovery.

The players

James 'Jamie' Carroll

The victim, a drag queen and beautician from an impoverished town in Kentucky's Appalachian region who was abused for his sexual orientation as a child.

Jeffrey Mundt

The homeowner whose basement was where Carroll's body was found, and who was charged with the murder along with his ex-boyfriend.

Joseph 'Joey' Banis

Mundt's ex-boyfriend, who was also charged with Carroll's murder and accused Mundt of the killing.

David Dominé

The author of the book 'A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City: Murder, Secrets, and Scandal in Old Louisville,' which the documentary is based on.

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato

The directors of the HBO documentary 'Murder in Glitterball City.'

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What they’re saying

“How are we going to make all this fit together? I don't know if we did, but I do know we finished it.”

— Randy Barbato, Co-director of 'Murder in Glitterball City' (Variety)

What’s next

The documentary's stunning conclusion raises questions about inconsistencies and imbalances in the U.S. justice system, which will likely spur further discussion and analysis.

The takeaway

By using the Old Louisville neighborhood as a central character, 'Murder in Glitterball City' goes beyond just telling the story of a gruesome murder, and instead offers a rich portrait of the community's history, eccentricities, and the impact the crime had on its tight-knit LGBTQ residents.