In the early 1980s, a sense of unease began to permeate a Pasadena neighborhood. Smoke billowed from the chimney of the Lamb Funeral Home’s crematorium at all hours, a sight far removed from the establishment’s long-standing reputation as a respected, family-run business. This unsettling activity, coupled with concerns from fellow morticians, hinted at a darkness lurking beneath the surface of this Southern California institution. Soon, allegations of organ harvesting, mass incineration of bodies, and even murder, surfaced, capturing local and national attention.
‘The Mortician,’ a three-part HBO docuseries premiering Sunday, delves into the macabre crimes of David Sconce and his family’s now-infamous Pasadena mortuary. The series explores how a once-esteemed establishment became synonymous with ghoulish offenses and a chilling chapter in L.A. crime history. Through interviews with those involved, the documentary uncovers a story of greed, deception, and unimaginable acts committed within the walls of a family business gone horribly wrong. It serves as a stark reminder of the depths of human depravity and the importance of vigilance in the face of seemingly respectable facades.
David Sconce: From Golden Boy to Mortician
David Sconce, the great-grandson of the mortuary’s founder and son of owners Jerry W. Sconce and Laurieanne Lamb Sconce, was the embodiment of Southern California privilege. A blond-haired, blue-eyed high school quarterback, he harbored dreams of playing professional football until a torn ligament shattered his aspirations. Fate, however, had a different path in store for him, leading him to the family’s crematorium. It was here that Sconce discovered his true calling: maximizing profits, regardless of the ethical and legal boundaries.
Driven by an insatiable desire for wealth, Sconce devised a horrifying scheme: incinerating multiple bodies in the same chamber. Unsuspecting families, mourning the loss of their loved ones, unknowingly scattered the ashes of several individuals at sea. This was only the beginning of Sconce’s descent into depravity, a glimpse into the macabre world he would create within the walls of the Lamb Funeral Home. His actions stand as a chilling example of how unchecked ambition can corrupt even the most privileged individuals, leading them down a path of unimaginable cruelty.
A Tip of the Macabre: Beyond Mass Cremations
The docuseries, helmed by director and producer Joshua Rofé, unveils a series of disturbing revelations that extend far beyond mass cremations. Sconce’s thirst for profit led him to engage in a multitude of ghoulish activities. He harvested organs and body parts for sale, exploiting the deceased for financial gain. He extracted gold from teeth fillings, adding another layer of desecration to his already heinous crimes. Furthermore, Sconce was investigated for allegedly hiring a hitman to eliminate a rival and poisoning another competitor who threatened to expose the illicit operations at the Lamb Funeral Home. The HBO series shines a light on the depravity that took place within the mortuary.
These allegations paint a grim picture of a man willing to stop at nothing to protect his empire of death. The series exposes the chilling extent of Sconce’s criminal enterprise, revealing a network of deceit and violence that permeated every aspect of the Lamb Funeral Home. It serves as a stark reminder of the potential for corruption within the death care industry and the need for stringent oversight to prevent such atrocities from occurring.
Legal Consequences and a Lack of Remorse
Sconce’s reign of terror eventually came to an end when he pleaded guilty to 21 criminal counts, including mutilating corpses, conducting mass cremations, and soliciting hitmen. In 1989, he was sentenced to five years in prison, a seemingly lenient punishment for the gravity of his crimes. However, his freedom was short-lived. After being released in 1991, he violated his probation and was subsequently sentenced to 25 years to life in 2013. Despite the severity of his actions and the years spent behind bars, Sconce was granted parole in 2023.
‘The Mortician’ offers a disturbing glimpse into Sconce’s mindset, revealing a man who appears more aggrieved than remorseful. In interviews, he alternates between denying his transgressions and boasting about his ability to maximize the number of bodies crammed into a crematory chamber, even resorting to breaking bones or severing limbs. This chilling lack of empathy underscores the depth of his depravity and raises questions about the justice system’s ability to adequately address such heinous crimes.
Sconce’s Disturbing Justifications
In a particularly unsettling statement, Sconce declares, ‘I don’t put any value on anybody after they’re gone and dead. As they shouldn’t when I’m gone and dead. Love ’em when they’re here.’ He rationalizes his actions, including the mixing of remains, as a practical business decision. ‘I could cremate one guy in two hours, or you could put 10 of them in there and take two and a half hours. So what would be the difference? There is none.’ This chillingly pragmatic perspective reveals a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life and the emotional toll inflicted upon grieving families.
Sconce’s justifications serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked capitalism and the erosion of ethical values in the pursuit of profit. His words highlight the importance of upholding moral principles, even in the face of financial incentives. It is a call to action to ensure that the death care industry operates with integrity and compassion, respecting the dignity of the deceased and providing solace to those left behind.
Insights from Those Involved
‘The Mortician’ features interviews with a range of individuals connected to the case, including former funeral home employees, former L.A. Times journalist Ashley Dunn, and former Pasadena Star-News reporter David Geary. Their accounts provide valuable context and shed light on the atmosphere of fear and secrecy that surrounded the Lamb Funeral Home. Several victims, who were deceived by Sconce, share their heartbreaking experiences, offering powerful testimonials about the emotional devastation caused by his actions. Their stories serve as a reminder of the human cost of Sconce’s crimes and the lasting impact on the lives of those he victimized.
Former law enforcement officials, who uncovered Sconce’s second crematory facility in Hesperia, recount the horrors they witnessed. They describe an old ceramics factory, repurposed with kilns, where canals were installed to collect human fat drippings from the packed chambers. These graphic details underscore the grotesque nature of Sconce’s operations and the lengths to which he went to conceal his crimes. Their accounts are a testament to the dedication and perseverance of law enforcement in bringing Sconce to justice.
Beyond ‘Six Feet Under’: A Different Kind of Undertaker Story
While HBO has previously explored the world of undertakers with the dark dramedy ‘Six Feet Under,’ ‘The Mortician’ presents a starkly different narrative. Unlike the fictional Fisher family, who grappled with their own dysfunctions amidst the backdrop of the embalming business, there is nothing remotely humorous about the twisted reality of the Lambs. The docuseries offers a chilling glimpse into a world of greed, deception, and unimaginable acts committed within the walls of a family business gone horribly wrong.
In a twist reminiscent of ‘The Jinx,’ Sconce’s own words at the end of the docuseries may ultimately come back to haunt him. His seemingly casual justifications and lack of remorse paint a portrait of a man detached from the gravity of his crimes. ‘The Mortician’ serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of upholding ethical values, even in the face of financial incentives. It is a stark reminder that the pursuit of profit should never come at the expense of human dignity.
Conclusion
‘The Mortician’ is a chilling exploration into the dark heart of a family-run mortuary that became synonymous with greed and depravity. The three-part HBO docuseries peels back the layers of the Sconce family’s crimes, revealing a disturbing tapestry of organ harvesting, mass cremations, and a blatant disregard for human dignity. Through interviews with those involved, including David Sconce himself, the series exposes the chilling lack of remorse and the disturbing justifications behind these heinous acts.
Ultimately, ‘The Mortician’ serves as a stark reminder of the potential for corruption within the death care industry and the importance of stringent oversight to prevent such atrocities from occurring. It is a call to action to ensure that the death care industry operates with integrity and compassion, respecting the dignity of the deceased and providing solace to those left behind. The series leaves viewers contemplating the depths of human depravity and the enduring impact of these ghoulish crimes on the victims and the community of Pasadena.
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