Exposing America’s Corrupt Funeral Clan in Shocking HBO Docuseries

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In the captivating HBO docuseries, The Mortician, premiering on HBO Max June 1, instead of saying “cheese” for photos, the focus family, the Lambs, were advised to say something like “money!” This intriguing detail is one of many that shed light on their unique dynamic. The Lambs are not just a morbid and money-driven family due to their funeral business; they also profited off the deceased and their relatives, with one corrupt relative taking center stage throughout the three episodes. Remarkably, the creators of The Mortician managed to secure in-depth interviews with this former ‘funeral director from hell’, not in jailhouse settings as one might expect.

David Sconce, formerly a businessman with a questionable past, now walks free, an unexpected turn of events given the numerous interviews that have shed light on the depths he allegedly sank to expand his empire. While some may find it too grim and engrossing, The Mortician effectively tells the story, delving into both perspectives connected with the Lambs scandal. It’s a must-watch for true crime enthusiasts.

How to Profit off Death

When you imagine funeral homes, they likely don’t conjure up images of shiny, impersonal office buildings. Instead, as one individual interviewed in the documentary ‘The Mortician’ describes it, death services have historically been a “Mom and Pop” industry in the U.S., with compassionate individuals manning the front desk and providing comfort to grieving families. This feeling of warmth is reminiscent of beloved TV personalities such as Mr. Rogers or Bob Ross. It’s not surprising, then, that the director of ‘The Mortician’, Joshua Rofé, also directed the Netflix documentary ‘Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed’ (2021).

At a funeral home in Southern California, owned by the affluent Lamb family, stood Laurieanne Lamb Sconce, a friendly and talkative receptionist who is alive today. In the 1980s, Laurieanne and her husband Jerry’s son, former football star David Sconce, assumed control of the family’s crematorium. It was around this time that issues started arising, manifesting as black smoke, persistent ash, and suspicious finances associated with the property.

If you were a resident of Pasadena who passed away in the ’80s and was cremated, it’s likely that David handled your remains. Some might find “scoop” an unconventional term in this context, but keep in mind the blunt manner David uses when speaking during his interviews spanning three episodes of The Mortician. He describes himself as an “open book,” and the interviewers delve into a variety of controversial topics. It’s surprising that the show’s producers were able to extract information from David about his rumored most questionable actions while managing the Pasadena crematorium, such as removing gold teeth from bodies, taking organs from the deceased, and burning several bodies concurrently, which might not ensure families receive the correct remains.

Hearing All Sides of the Story

In the novel “The Mortician“, David’s bizarre thought patterns gradually surface. It’s spine-tingling to observe how his mind functions, given that this occurred decades following the alleged crimes. Remarkably, David doesn’t seem to hesitate when discussing topics that landed him in legal trouble for extended periods. The reason behind this could be that he acknowledges minor transgressions but denies more severe ones. For instance, regarding the mixing of ashes after burning multiple bodies at once, his argument is that other crematoriums were doing it too, and that humans are insignificant post-death.

Fortunately, The Mortician manages to stay impartial. In addition to listening to Sconce’s PTSD-affected henchmen, who were involved in the progressively questionable activities David orchestrated to extract more funds from the deceased, viewers will also hear from law enforcement officers who investigated the Lamb family. Their investigation revealed that some of David’s actions were learned behaviors stemming from his corrupt parents, who had maintained an innocent image for years. The Mortician also includes interviews with relatives of the victims who were deceived and betrayed, now in possession of cremated remains they believe do not belong to their deceased loved one.

Should the name David Sconce not ring a bell presently, it soon will for HBO subscribers. If audiences can endure the consistently grim topics, they can also recognize how this docuseries sheds light on a broader issue of corruption within the death services sector. And considering the expected success of “The Mortician“, it wouldn’t be surprising if a feature film or series adaptation follows in the future.

The first episode of The Mortician will debut on HBO Max June 1, with new episodes Sundays.

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2025-06-01 19:06