Since the release of HBO’s chilling true-crime documentary The Mortician, we have seen a noticeable rise in visitors to The Alpha Society’s website. For those who found us after watching the series, we understand your curiosity and your concern, and we believe in meeting both with honesty.
Why You May Have Found Us
Many people arrive here after searching the name they saw on screen. We think transparency matters more than silence, so rather than ignore the history, we want to explain it clearly. Trust is the foundation of this work, and we would rather you hear the full story directly from us.
What the Documentary Covers
The documentary focuses on the crimes of David Sconce, a California mortician whose actions in the 1980s shocked not only the funeral industry but the entire country. Sconce was ultimately convicted for orchestrating illegal mass cremations, stealing gold dental work from bodies, and attempting to eliminate competitors through violence.
It is a horrifying story, and, unfortunately, The Alpha Society’s name appears in that tangled history.
The Alpha Society Was Never Involved
The Alpha Society itself was never involved in those crimes. In fact, both of the funeral directors who previously owned The Alpha Society explicitly refused to do business with Sconce because they recognized early on that something was not right.
One of those men , Tim Waters, was a young, principled funeral director who ran The Alpha Society with integrity. When Sconce approached him with offers to handle cremations at suspiciously low rates, Tim declined. Not long after, he was attacked in his own office, a brutal beating carried out by individuals tied to Sconce. Tim tragically died shortly after, at just 24 years old, and his murder remains officially unsolved.
The next owner, Elie Estephan, who later took over the business, also refused Sconce’s offers and was himself the victim of a failed murder attempt, for which Sconce was later convicted and imprisoned. These were not business deals gone wrong. They were acts of violence targeting people who stood up for ethics and transparency in a profession that too often operates in silence.
Under New Ownership Today
Today, The Alpha Society is under entirely new ownership and management. We are no longer connected to anyone involved in that era. The business was acquired by Sparrow and is now operated by licensed funeral director Erica Hill, who leads with compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to doing right by every family we serve.
The Alpha Society today is a far cry from the version seen in old news clips. We offer affordable, ethical cremation and burial services in Los Angeles, with a focus on clear pricing, cultural sensitivity, and personalized care. We welcome families from all backgrounds and support them through some of life’s most vulnerable moments with dignity, not deception.
A New Chapter in Ethical Care
If you have come here after watching The Mortician, we welcome your questions. We know how important trust is in this work, and we do not take it lightly that you are here. This is a new chapter. We are here to honor the families who came before, to reckon with the truths of the past, and to show what ethical, modern death care can look like moving forward.
If you would like to talk or learn more, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. You can also read our frequently asked questions or explore pre-planning options to learn how we work today.
