Exploring Louisville’s True Crime and Ghosts with David Domine

I had no idea what a treat I was in for when the chance arose to interview David Dominé about his book, A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City. The interview ended up encompassing three things I love most: true crime, horror, and the paranormal. You know, Haunt Jaunts’ founding tenants.

I didn’t quite understand that at the time I set up the interview, though. All I really knew was a little about the case that inspired David’s book. Namely, two men, Joseph Banis and Jeffrey Mundt, were accused of killing James Carroll in an Old Louisville mansion that once served as a sanatorium. And the way their crime —and the body— came to light is what helped make the case sensational on both a local and national level.

I was semi-aware of the historic neighborhood the crime took place in thanks to my former tennis partner, Rachel. Her son and daughter went to college in Louisville. When she’d go visit them, she had shops and restaurants she liked to visit in that neighborhood. I’ve never checked it out myself, but after talking with David and learning more about it, it’s now on my list of other places I want to explore on a future jaunt to the Glitter Ball City.

Speaking of the city’s nickname, that it had more than one was something else I hadn’t known about Louisville. It was just one of many interesting revelations David shared.

Our entire conversation is also embedded below. I highly encourage you to check it out. That way, you can see David in action for yourself. But I’ll warn you, you’re in for a treat. This born storyteller will captivate you.

11 Things I Learned About Louisville and Its Haunted and True Crime History from David Domine

1. Historic Old Louisville

The historic neighborhood in the heart of the city is comprised of one of the largest collections of Victorian mansions in the U.S. It’s also one of the largest historic preservation districts with 45 square blocks and roughly 1,400 structures in all.

With its old wealth blending with new money and quirky cast of characters, Old Louisville is much like Savannah in the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Which is also a comparison readers of A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City make.

2. The He-Said/He-Said, or Pink Triangle Murder

The murder of James Carroll resulted in, as David put it, “a couple of the most scandalous murder trials” that Louisville had seen in a while. It was also referred to by a couple of names, including “the he-said/he-said trial” because neither Joseph Banis nor Jeffrey Mundt accepted responsibility for killing Carroll and pointed the finger at each other. It was also called the “Pink Triangle Murder” because all three men were gay.

3. The Scene of the Crime: The Richard Robinson Mansion

David shared an interesting connection he had with the house where James Carroll was murdered. Once upon a time, when it had gone on the market, he’d gone to look at it. As he left, another man rushed past him, late for his appointment to check out the house. It had been Jeffrey Mundt, who ended up buying the home that had sat vacant for a long time and needed a lot of work.

But even before the Carroll murder, the Richard Robinson house had earned a reputation as a haunted house. One that definitely stuck when Dr. Stanley Bandeen briefly turned it into a sanatorium in the 1920s and 1930s where he claimed he could cure cancer. Except he was a quack and a sadist reminiscent of Norman Baker, who had used what’s now the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for similar purposes.

But even before that, several owners had died of mysterious circumstances there, so as early as 1920, it had earned a haunted reputation. And then after Dr. Bandeen, it seemed every several years, another owner would die or a catastrophic accident would happen on the property. No wonder people believed it was cursed.

Until Pauline Boren bought it. She seemed to have broken the curse, living there 30 years…until a tenant she was renting a room to beat her to death. The house remained mostly unused for 10 years, until Boren’s family sold it to Mundt.

4. The Wine Cellar

One of the reasons David had been curious to check out the home when it had gone up for sale was because it boasted a wine cellar. But the visions David had of it were dashed when he discovered it was really nothing more than a room in the basement with a dirt floor.

Mundt, however, had visions of resurrecting S&M activity there. David uncovered info that a man who had rented the space from Pauline Boren in the ’80s and used it as an S&M club. Mundt was apparently aware of this history too.

Sadly, it served a much more sinister purpose. Joseph Banis and Jeffrey Mundt took advantage of the wine cellar’s dirt floor and buried James Carroll under it in a blue Rubbermaid container. (After they’d taken a sledgehammer to his body to fit him into it.)

5. The Richard Robinson Mansion Did NOT Inspire American Horror Story

Even before David brought it up, the house’s history brought visions of American Horror Story to mind. Partly because season 11, NYC, just wrapped and featured the gay S&M scene in New York City in the 1980s.

However, because of all the deaths in the house, it shares a haunting resemblance to the first season of American Horror Story: Murder House. As David reminded me, among the specters haunting that house was the creepy leather-clad Rubber Man. Yet another S&M connection. Mundt apparently liked to dress in a similar fashion for his sexual escapades.

David said all of these similarities have led some to say the house inspired the storyline, but it didn’t.

6. The First 48 Has a Contract with Louisville

Did you know some shows have contracts with cities? I want to say maybe I’d heard that about Cops once upon a time, but I can’t be sure. But I had no idea a show like The First 48 would have a contract, so I found that an interesting tidbit to learn.

7. The First 48 Jamie Carroll Murder Episode

Speaking of The First 48, David explained the show had been in town filming when James Carroll’s body was discovered. Like, they were there on scene with cameras rolling. He told me to look it up, so I did and found a clip of them hauling the blue Rubbermaid container up from the cellar on his tour company’s YouTube channel.

8. The First 48 Isn’t the Only True Crime Show to Feature the James Carroll Murder

David said it’s been featured on a lot of true crime podcasts and at least four or five episodes of true crime shows. In fact, Snapped: Killer Couples has an episode about the case coming out soon.

9. Why Louisville Is Called Glitter Ball City

Louisville is more commonly known as Derby City, thanks to its famous horse race. However, once upon a time, it was also the world’s largest manufacturer of mirrored, or glitter, balls. Many of us know them as disco balls, but they were popular way before then, and Louisville was where most were made. Until production was shipped off to China.

10. What Happened to the Richard Robinson House

David said it’s been restored, is beautiful, and now houses graduate students from the nearby university.

It’s not open to the public, but it is a stop on David’s tours where people can at least admire the outside. And as far as David knows, it’s a “dead house” as far as paranormal activity goes. Hopefully, the local legend of it being cursed and having the ability to possess people and make them do bad things has been broken.

11. David’s Company: Louisville Historic Tours

David runs this tour company, which is how you can learn all about Old Louisville’s history, architecture, and even ghosts. He operates both a daytime tour and a night one, which you can book a couple of ways. One, by visiting louisvillehistorictours.com, or via Viator, which is one of HJ’s affiliates, so I have handy links to share with you.

Old Louisville Walking Tour as Recommended by The New York Times!

Old Louisville Ghost Tour as Recommended by The New York Times

The Chat with David Domine

3 of David Dominé’s Books

As David mentioned during our chat, he’s the author of over a dozen books, including a couple of cookbooks! However, he’s updated and consolidated his ghost books into one. And then there’s his true crime, A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City, and his memoir of living in a haunted house, Voodoo Days at La Casa Fabulosa.

A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City: Murder, Secrets, and Scandal in Old Louisville

Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD

Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3HcdpBm

Voodoo Days at La Casa Fabulosa

Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback

Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3Pd3kWU

True Ghost Stories and Eerie Legends from America’s Most Haunted Neighborhood

Formats: Paperback and Audiobook

Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3UFMYqG

Check-In

Have you ever been to Louisville?