In the upcoming HBO series “The Mortician,” former Los Angeles funeral director David Sconce will open up about his twisted history. In 1989, Sconce pleaded guilty to mutilating corpses, holding mass cremations to increase his profits, stealing items off corpses, and hiring men to beat up rival morticians. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
Sconce was also accused of fatally poisoning his competitor Timothy Waters, but the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. He was released from prison in 1991 but sent back in 2013 after violating his parole. Sconce was released on parole once again in 2023 and will now share his story in “The Mortician,” which premieres on Sunday, June 1.
Sconce doesn’t exactly seem remorseful in the trailer for the docuseries. “I don’t put any value in anybody after they’re gone and dead, as they shouldn’t when I’m gone and dead. Love ‘em when they’re here — period,” he says in the clip.
Sconce also speaks callously about mass cremations. (According to SmartCremation.com, cremations in California must be performed individually, unless a loved one authorizes a multiple cremation in writing.) “I could cremate one guy in, like, two hours, or you could put ten of ‘em in there, and it would take two and a half hours,” Sconce says.
“So, what would be the difference? There is none. … That’s not your loved one anymore.” A synopsis for “The Mortician” describes it as the tale of “a trusted family-owned funeral home that hid behind a facade of decency and propriety to take advantage of loved ones at their most vulnerable moments.” READ MORE: Where is Sherri Papini now?
An update on the woman who allegedly faked her own kidnapping The docuseries’ director, Joshua Rofé, told People in a statement that he was drawn to the subject matter because of his interest in “L.A. noir” and “stories that explore the underbelly of this incredibly complex city.” “In ‘The Mortician,’ I found a chilling story about the business of death that was distinctly L.A. noir but was also layered with our relationship with grief and loss,” he continued. Sconce won’t be the only voice heard in “The Mortician;” the trailer features a woman who was impacted by his crimes.
“They violated and desecrated my father,” the woman tells cameras. “It’s unconscionable.” “The Mortician” premieres on HBO and Max on Sunday, June 1, at 9 p.m. ET.
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