HBO‘s ‘The Mortician’: True Crime Docuseries Unearths Funeral Home Horrors

The Hbo Docuseries, “The Mortician,” Delves Into the Disturbing World Of David Sconce, Heir To A Southern California Funeral Home Empire. This True-Crime Narrative Unravels A Web Of Illegal Cremations, Corpse Mutilation, And Ethical Breaches Within The Lamb family’s Legacy.

David Sconce: The Unrepentant Grifter

David Sconce’s Lack Of Remorse Is Evident From The Outset. Despite Participating In The Documentary, He Shows No Sign Of Regret For His Heinous Actions, Solidifying His Image As A Conscienceless Criminal.

Initially Portrayed As A Talented Football Player Forced Into the Family Business Due To injury,Sconce Quickly Adapted To His Role At The Lamb Funeral Home.The Lamb Family, A Respected Name In Pasadena Since The 1920S, Afforded Him The Possibility To Exploit Their Community’s Trust.

Taking Charge Of The Crematorium In The 1980S, Sconce Implemented A Scheme To Massively Increase Volume By Cutting Prices. Within Five Years, Annual Cremations Soared From Under 200 To Over 25,000.

The Horrifying Practices

Sconce’s Methods Were Far From Modern Or Ethical. He And His Employees, Often individuals With Criminal Records Or Drug Habits, Competed To cram Multiple Bodies Into Single Ovens. This Involved Breaking and Severing Limbs To Maximize Space.

After A Fire Destroyed The Crematorium Due To Negligence, sconce Relocated To Hesperia, Replacing Conventional Ovens With Ceramic Kilns. The Resulting Smoke Became So Noxious That One Accomplice Ran A Phone Line To his Car To Avoid Being Inside.

Local Residents Complained, Prompting An Inquiry. One Investigator, A Former Soldier, Recognized The Odor As Similar To That Of Auschwitz, Highlighting The Gruesome Nature Of sconce’s Operations.

A Family Tradition Of Corruption

The Documentary Reveals That sconce’s Actions Were Not Entirely Out Of Character For The Lamb Family. The Practice Of Harvesting organs And Gold Teeth, Referred To As “Popping Chops,” Was Already Established.

Laurieanne, Sconce’s Mother, Allegedly Skimmed profits From Pre-Need Accounts. She Reportedly Kept A Supply Of miscellaneous Ashes To Make Up For Discrepancies When Selling Body Parts, Exploiting Bereaved Families.

While Selling Body Parts Is Illegal, Sconce Justified His Actions By Charging For the labor of Procuring Them.By The Time David Sconce Emerged, The Family’s Dishonest Practices Were Deeply Entrenched.

The Victims’ stories

“The Mortician” Features Interviews With Individuals Who Entrusted Their Loved Ones To The Lambs, Only To Receive Ashes Of Questionable Origin. one Person discovered That Their Family members’ Hearts Had been Removed.

However, The Series Often Reverts To Focusing On Sconce’s Cold, Calculating Demeanor Rather Than The Grief of The Victims. His Lack Of Empathy Is Striking, Even For Someone In His Profession.

“That’s Not Your Loved One Anymore,” He Declares, Displaying A Shocking Level Of Detachment. his Ex-Wife Recalls Him Casually Sorting Through A Cup Full Of Teeth To Extract Gold Fillings.

The Timothy Waters Case

The documentary Also Touches On The 1985 Death Of Timothy Waters, A Rival Mortician Who Was investigating Sconce’s Practices. Waters’ Death, Initially Ruled A Heart Attack, Remains Shrouded In Suspicion.

Although Sconce Was Charged With Murder And Traces Of Oleander Poison Were Found, The Case Was Dropped due To The Body’s decomposition. Despite Sconce’s Alleged Bragging, A Lack Of Concrete Evidence Leaves The Truth Uncertain.

A “Jinx”-Style Confession?

In A Controversial Ending, “The Mortician” Presents A Moment Reminiscent Of “The Jinx,” Suggesting sconce May Have Confessed To Three Murders. These Include Waters, A Former Employee, And A Man Who Attempted To Rob Sconce.

The Scene Is Cut Short By A Cameraman’s Proclamation That They Need To Reload, Allowing Sconce To Regain Control And Refuse To Continue On Camera. He Concedes That These Are “Things I Can’t Talk About.”

Director Joshua Rofé Suggests That Sconce Was “Clearly Implying Serious Crimes Have Been Committed.” The Ambiguity Of This Ending, Though, Leaves Viewers With More Questions than Answers.

The Use Of A Last-Minute Equipment Malfunction Recalls Errol Morris’ “The Thin Blue Line,” Where A Pivotal Interview Was Only Captured On Audio. However,The Circumstances Differ Substantially.

Morris’ Film Aimed To Prove Innocence, While “The Mortician” seeks To Suggest Guilt. The Documentary’s Ending, While Dramatic, Ultimately Falls short of Delivering A Clear Revelation.

Key Events in “The Mortician” Scandal

Did You Know? The cremation rate in the United States reached nearly 60% in 2023, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.

the Docuseries Raises Important Questions About The Ethics Of The Funeral Industry and True Crime Storytelling. Is It Possible To Fully Understand The Motivations Of Someone Like David Sconce? Does The Documentary Justify Its Focus On The Perpetrator Rather Than The Victims?

Pro tip:

Always research funeral homes thoroughly and check for any disciplinary actions with the state’s regulatory board before making arrangements.