When hairdresser Jamie Carroll disappeared in 2009, he was never reported missing. But six months later, his body was found in the basement of a historic Louisville, Kentucky, home belonging to Jeffrey Mundt and his boyfriend Joe Banis.
Following their arrest, Banis and Mundt broke up and accused each other of killing Carroll. Eventually, both men were imprisoned, but only one was actually convicted of murder.
HBO’s new two-part docuseries Murder in Glitterball City, which premieres February 19 and is available to stream on HBO Max, revisits the grisly murder case through a new light. Based on David Dominé’s 2010 true crime book, A Dark Room in Glitterball City, the series focuses on Banis and Mundt’s toxic relationship and how their sexual encounter with Carroll ended in his murder.
Here’s what to know about their involvement in the crime and what their lives are like today.
Who Are Joe Banis and Jeffrey Mundt?
Shortly after meeting on a dating site, Joe Banis moved into Jeffrey Mundt’s historic Old Louisville mansion in the fall of 2009. At the time, Mundt was a successful IT professional and Banis had just been released from prison for drug-related crimes. Banis was already acquainted with Jamie Carroll, a hairdresser and part-time drag queen, who had a side hustle dealing meth.
That December, Banis and Mundt lured Carroll to their home for a tryst that ended in Carroll’s death. But none of this came to light until months later. In June 2010, Mundt called 911 from his bathroom, claiming Banis had threatened to kill him. The two men were taken in for questioning, during which they separately told police about Carroll’s murder, each accusing the other of committing the crime.
Just before this incident, in April 2010, the couple was arrested for attempting to use a counterfeit $100 bill at a hotel, which led authorities to find fake IDs, the “date rape” drug gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, and over $50,000 in counterfeit cash in their hotel room.
What Happened to Jamie Carroll?
Following the 911 call, Banis drew the cops a map to a makeshift grave in the basement of the mansion, where Carroll’s body was found. The 37-year-old had been shot and stabbed during a meth-fueled sexual encounter with Banis and Mundt, but exactly who killed him was unclear.
In 2013, the two men were tried separately and testified against each other. Mundt claimed he witnessed Banis shoot Carroll and slit his throat, admitting only to helping get rid of the body because he feared for his life. “He said if he couldn’t get to me, he would find somebody who could,” Mundt said in court.
Meanwhile, Banis concocted the tale that Mundt found out he was romantically involved with Carroll and killed him in a jealous fit of rage. “If I had wanted to kill Jamie for any reason, be it robbery, jealousy, anger, psychotic break, I would have chosen a much better place and time,” Banis said.
What Were Joe Banis and Jeffrey Mundt Convicted Of?
Ultimately, the jury sided with Mundt’s testimony. In February 2013, Banis was convicted of complicity to murder, robbery, and tampering with evidence. Reaching a plea agreement to avoid the death penalty, he was sentenced to life in prison.
A few months later, in May, Mundt was convicted of robbery and tampering with evidence, but was acquitted of the murder charge. The key evidence that spared him a murder conviction was a video of Banis effectively confessing to the crime. For his complicity, Mundt was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison.
Where Are Joe Banis and Jeffrey Mundt Today?
Now 54, Banis remains imprisoned and is serving his life sentence at the Lee Adjustment Center in Beattyville, Kentucky. He will be eligible for parole in 2030. After serving only one year in prison, Mundt, also 54, was released on parole in August 2014. His current whereabouts are unknown.
How to Watch Murder in Glitterball City
Despite their convictions, exactly what provoked the fight that led to Carroll’s murder remains a mystery. Their possible motives are explored in the new two-part docuseries Murder in Glitterball City, which aims to bring more “humanity” to the true crime genre.
“It was really important to not just make a procedural true crime,” director Randy Barbato told The Wrap in February. “For us, it was about connecting to all the characters, regardless of the depth of their connection to the story.”
Murder in Glitterball City premieres on HBO February 19. Stream it on HBO Max.
Catherine Caruso joined the Biography.com staff in August 2024, having previously worked as a freelance journalist for several years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she studied English literature. When she’s not working on a new story, you can find her reading, hitting the gym, or watching too much TV.
