HBO’s latest true-crime docuseries, The Mortician, concluded its first season with a haunting twist that immediately drew comparisons to the infamous finale of The Jinx in 2015. In the final minutes of the third episode, David Sconce — the subject of the series and a convicted felon — appeared to make an on-camera confession suggesting his involvement in multiple murders.
A Confession Echoing Robert Durst’s Infamous Moment
Much like Robert Durst’s infamous offhand remark, “Killed them all, of course,” caught on a hot mic in The Jinx, David Sconce closed out The Mortician with eerily cryptic statements. Speaking to director Joshua Rofé, Sconce recalled a moment when he believed he was going to die after a man pulled a gun on him in a cemetery. He added, “Do you think I found that guy? … Really, there’s three of them altogether.”
This line strongly echoed an earlier allegation in the series by a former employee who claimed Sconce had killed three people. Rofé told The Hollywood Reporter, “With a wink and a nod, he’s making these admissions,” reinforcing the idea that viewers had just witnessed a veiled confession.
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A Chilling Encounter Behind the Camera
When Rofé insisted that he wouldn’t accept any information off the record, Sconce responded ominously: “It’s never gonna come back. Never gonna come back. Can’t come back.” The tension of that moment, captured on film, deeply unsettled the filmmaker.
Reflecting on the situation, Rofé said, “This guy really thinks I’m then gonna just walk with this secret alongside him. It was so chilling.” The ambiguity of Sconce’s words, paired with his criminal past, left a powerful impact on the audience and the production team.
The Mortician: More Than Just a True-Crime Series
Streaming now on Max, The Mortician tells the unsettling story of David Sconce’s rise and fall in the funeral industry during the 1980s. Taking over his family’s respected funeral home in Southern California, Sconce soon found himself at the center of controversy due to illegal cremation practices — and now possibly something darker.
Produced by an acclaimed team including Joshua Rofé, Jonah Hill, Matt Dines, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Tina Nguyen, the series combines investigative journalism with intimate interviews and chilling revelations.
Critical Reception and Awards Potential
The Mortician currently holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its haunting tone and compelling subject. J. Kelly Nestruck from The Globe and Mail called it “a must-watch for fans of The Jinx.” Megan Lachinski of Next Best Picture wrote, “After three hours, we’re left grieving for the living and angry at a man incapable of empathy.”
However, not all reviews were glowing. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com criticized the series for not fully exploring Sconce’s motivations, calling it “a disappointment” and “a project that fails to deepen our understanding of a monster.”
Director Joshua Rofé, a two-time International Documentary Association nominee, is expected to compete for the 2026 Emmy Awards in the same category where The Jinx triumphed in 2015.
