The James Carroll Murder: The True Story Behind HBO's 'Murder in Glitterball City'
Want the full, in-depth story? Listen to our complete deep-dive episode on the James Carroll murder case, "The Body in the Basement."
The two-part HBO Original Documentary, "Murder in Glitterball City," premieres on February 19, 2026, on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. The two-part HBO Original Documentary, Murder in Glitterball City, is now available to stream on Max.
The official poster for the HBO documentary "Murder in Glitterball City," which explores the James Carroll murder case. (1)
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A 911 Call Unravels a Dark Secret
The story begins on the night of June 17, 2010, when Louisville Metro Police responded to a frantic 911 call from Jeffrey Mundt. He claimed his boyfriend, Joey Banis, was trying to attack him with a hammer inside their Old Louisville home. When police arrived, they found a volatile domestic dispute. But what Banis told them next turned a routine call into a full-blown homicide investigation. He claimed Mundt had killed a man named James “Jamie” Carroll months earlier and buried him in their basement (2).
Police were skeptical, but a search of the historic mansion revealed a horrifying truth. Buried beneath the dirt floor of the wine cellar was a sealed, airtight Rubbermaid container. Inside, they found the decomposing body of Jamie Carroll, who had been missing since November 2009. He had been stabbed multiple times and shot.
Joey Banis (left) and Jeffrey Mundt (right), the two men at the center of the James Carroll murder case. (3)
A Tangled Web of Sex, Drugs, and Lies
As the investigation unfolded, a dark and complex story emerged. The three men which were Jeffrey Mundt, a well-educated IT professional; Joey Banis, his younger lover with a criminal past; and Jamie Carroll, a local drug dealer, were entangled in a love triangle fueled by methamphetamine and jealousy. (4)
Banis and Mundt had met on a dating site in the fall of 2009, and Banis quickly moved into Mundt’s impressive Victorian mansion. However, Banis had also been in a relationship with Carroll, a fact that created significant tension. According to prosecutors, this volatile mix of relationships, combined with a plan to rob Carroll of drugs and money, set the stage for murder.
He Said, He Said: Two Killers, One Victim
The central mystery of the James Carroll case lies in the conflicting accounts from the only two living witnesses: Joey Banis and Jeffrey Mundt. Both men admitted to being involved in the disposal of the body, but each pointed the finger at the other as the killer.
The central mystery of the James Carroll case lies in the conflicting accounts from the only two living witnesses: Joey Banis and Jeffrey Mundt. Both men admitted to being involved in the disposal of the body, but each pointed the finger at the other as the killer.
THE KILLER
Joey Banis claimed: Mundt stabbed and shot Carroll in a jealous rage.
Jeffrey Mundt claimed: Banis killed Carroll during a violent struggle.
THE MOTIVE
Joey Banis claimed: Mundt was jealous of Banis's relationship with Carroll.
Jeffrey Mundt claimed: The murder was the result of Banis's violent nature.
THE COVER-UP
Joey Banis claimed: Mundt threatened to kill Banis and his family if he spoke.
Jeffrey Mundt claimed: He helped cover up the crime out of fear of Banis.
Banis claimed that Mundt, who had recently lost his job, hatched a plan to kill Carroll for money. He alleged that after a night of drug use, Mundt attacked Carroll in bed, stabbing him repeatedly before shooting him. Mundt, on the other hand, portrayed himself as a victim, terrified of his violent and unpredictable boyfriend. He was articulate and well-spoken, and detectives initially found his story credible.
The historic Victorian mansion in Old Louisville where the murder took place. (5)
Two Trials, Two Very Different Outcomes
With two conflicting stories and no other witnesses, prosecutors decided to charge both men with murder and let a jury decide their fates. The trials, however, produced shockingly different results.
Joey Banis was tried first in February 2013. Prosecutors painted him and Mundt as a “twisted” couple who murdered Carroll for money. The jury found Banis guilty of murder, and he was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2030.
Jeffrey Mundt’s trial followed in May 2013, and it included a stunning twist. A confession video, found on Banis’s computer, was played for the jury. In the video, Banis takes responsibility for the murder. His defense attorneys argued the confession was made under duress and threat of death from Mundt, but the video had a powerful impact. The jury found Mundt not guilty of murder. He was convicted only of tampering with evidence and robbery, sentenced to eight years in prison, and was released on parole after serving just one year.
An Unsolved Mystery
The wildly different outcomes of the two trials left many with more questions than answers. How could one man be sentenced to life in prison while the other walked free after a year, when both were in the room where the murder happened? Was the confession video a genuine admission of guilt, or was it coerced?
Even David Domine, the author whose book "A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City" inspired the HBO documentary, remains uncertain. "Today, even still, I’m not 100 percent certain if one killed Jamie Carroll and the other helped, or both did it together," he told Snapped: Killer Couples. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. (PS I read David's book, A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City, and it's fantastic. Check it out if you're looking for a new true crime read!)
The James Carroll case is a chilling reminder that the truth can be elusive, and that sometimes, even a conviction doesn’t solve the mystery.
Want the full, in-depth story? Listen to our deep-dive podcast episode on the James Carroll murder case.
The two-part HBO Original Documentary, "Murder in Glitterball City," premieres on February 19, 2026, on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
References
[1] IMDb. "Murder in Glitterball City (TV Mini Series 2026) - IMDb." Accessed February 6, 2026.
