The Mortician: True Story & HBO Documentary
- A new HBO documentary series, The Mortician, premiering June 1, delves into the true story of David Sconce, a cremator who went to prison for his unethical handling...
- In the 1980s, Sconce operated a cremation business that deliberately mixed human remains and stole valuables from the deceased and their families.
- The episodes reveal how sconce boosted business for his family's Lamb Funeral Home in Pasadena,Calif., through disturbing practices.
In a gripping new HBO documentary, “The Mortician” unearths the chilling true story of David Sconce, a cremator whose unethical practices led to a devastating cremation scandal. The series reveals how Sconce deliberately mixed remains and stole valuables in the 1980s, shocking details that are now brought to light. Former employees of Lamb Funeral Home detail disturbing actions, including simultaneous cremations and the horrific experiences of those whose loved ones were affected. The documentary examines Sconce’s lack of remorse for his crimes, a perspective that has gained attention. This series emphasizes the importance of ethical standards for handling human remains, which spurred stricter cremation regulations in California. For insights that you won’t find elsewhere, News Directory 3 has the exclusive coverage. Discover what’s next in this unfolding narrative.
HBO’s ‘The Mortician’ Unearths Shocking Cremation Business Scandal
Updated June 02, 2025
A new HBO documentary series, The Mortician, premiering June 1, delves into the true story of David Sconce, a cremator who went to prison for his unethical handling of human remains. The series explores the depths of this cremation scandal.
In the 1980s, Sconce operated a cremation business that deliberately mixed human remains and stole valuables from the deceased and their families. the three-part series features Sconce himself, who reflects on his crimes after pleading guilty in 1989.
The episodes reveal how sconce boosted business for his family’s Lamb Funeral Home in Pasadena,Calif., through disturbing practices. Former employees recount horrifying experiences, while customers share their trauma of receiving incorrect remains. Current morticians also provide insights into ethical standards for handling human remains.
Director Joshua Rofé suggests the David Sconce scandal mirrors broader corporate greed, but notes the funeral industry’s version is particularly “gruesome.”
How the Cremation Business Scandal Unfolded
Sconce’s competitors grew suspicious due to his high cremation volume and low prices. Former employees reveal that sconce’s team cremated multiple bodies simultaneously,breaking bones to fit more remains into the ovens.
As operations expanded to the California desert, they cremated up to 200 bodies at a time. A World War II veteran, who lived nearby, alerted authorities after recognizing the smell of burning flesh, leading to Sconce’s arrest.
In 1989, Sconce admitted to mishandling remains and stealing gold fillings. After serving time, he was re-incarcerated in 2013 for a probation violation involving a firearm and was paroled in 2023.
Funeral directors emphasize that Sconce’s actions were an anomaly. the scandal prompted stricter regulations, including unannounced crematory inspections, and made extracting dental gold a felony.
Inside Sconce’s Illegal Cremation Practices
Former employees recall stripping bodies,removing jewelry,and competing to cram more bodies into the cremation ovens. Andre Augustine, a former employee, stated that remains were mixed, resulting in clients receiving ashes from multiple individuals.
Sconce’s ex-wife, Barbara Hunt, learned about his activities through news reports. She recounted seeing him extract gold from teeth in their garage, which he then sold.
“He sold the gold,” Hunt said. “I just sat there thinking, what world am I in?”
Sconce’s Lack of Remorse
Sconce openly discusses cremating multiple bodies at once, showing no remorse. He even drove a Corvette with the license plate “I BRN 4U.”
He justifies his actions by arguing that crematories can never fully clean ovens between cremations. He also downplays the meaning of scattering mixed ashes at sea, as most families did not attend thes events.
“There’s no difference in anybody’s cremated ash…people just got to be more in control of their emotions. That’s not your loved one anymore, and it never has been. Love them when they’re here. Period,” Sconce said.
Rofé believes Sconce’s primary motivation was financial gain. He recalls Sconce questioning what Rofé would do if offered money to portray him negatively, revealing a chilling intensity.
Rofé defended giving Sconce a platform, emphasizing the importance of confronting stories about criminals. “Taking a good, hard look at people like this is vital,” he said.
What’s next
The Mortician promises to shed light on the dark side of the funeral industry and the lasting impact of David Sconce’s actions, prompting reflection on ethical practices and the handling of human remains.