HBO Series Exposes Infamous Mortuary Scandal

“The Mortician,” a new HBO docuseries, revisits one of California’s most disturbing funeral home scandals. Here’s why it still matters.

HBO’s latest docuseries, The Mortician, shines a spotlight on David Sconce and the Lamb Funeral Home scandal that shocked California in the 1980s. Sconce, who operated the family-run mortuary business in Pasadena, was exposed for carrying out illegal mass cremations, deceiving families, and even engaging in unauthorized sales of human remains to medical institutions.

The series revisits how investigators uncovered that Sconce was cremating multiple bodies at once in a single oven to save on costs—sometimes over 30 at a time—and returning co-mingled ashes to grieving families. He was also linked to a murder-for-hire scheme and a series of forged documents. These revelations led to outrage and prompted major regulatory reforms across the funeral services industry in California.

The scandal underscored significant gaps in oversight and accountability in the mortuary profession. Following public outcry, California enacted legislation requiring stricter licensing requirements, more frequent inspections, and greater transparency in crematory practices.

Even decades later, the Sconce case serves as a cautionary tale about what can go wrong when trust is abused in sensitive industries. If you have concerns about a funeral provider’s practices, or suspect unethical handling of remains, legal avenues exist. Consult with an attorney experienced in mortuary law to explore your rights.