HBO’s The Mortician, a new three-part documentary series, reveals the disturbing true story of David Sconce, a crematorium operator who went to prison in 1989 for grossly mishandling human remains.
The series, which premiered on June 1, features accounts from former employees, traumatised clients, and Sconce himself, offering a rare insight into one of the most unsettling scandals in US funeral history.
In the 1980s, Sconce ran Lamb Funeral Home in Pasadena, California. He increased profits by cremating multiple bodies at once—often breaking bones to fit more in the chamber—and delivering mixed ashes to grieving families.
His methods raised suspicions when he completed far more cremations than competitors at lower prices. A WWII veteran eventually reported the smell of burning flesh near Sconce’s desert facility, triggering an investigation.
Sconce pled guilty in 1989 to charges including mishandling remains and extracting gold fillings from corpses. He served time and was later returned to prison in 2013 for violating probation. He was released on parole in 2023.
Former staff detail shocking practices, such as removing clothing and jewellery from bodies for resale. Sconce’s ex-wife recalls catching him cracking teeth with a hammer and collecting gold in a cup labelled “Au”.
Sconce remains unapologetic, dismissing concerns over mixed remains and stating, “That’s not a person anymore.” Director Joshua Rofé includes Sconce’s voice to provoke reflection, asserting that confronting such behaviour is essential for understanding the darker sides of humanity.
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