American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 8 Episode 1 Murder in Memphis

In season 8 episode 1 of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels, and Scandals, titled "Murder in Memphis," the show takes a deep dive into the shocking story of the ruthless and corrupt funeral home director, Clayton Smart. Smart had been known as a trusted and beloved figure in the Memphis community for decades, running one of the largest funeral homes in the city. However, in the mid-2000s, it was revealed that Smart had been stealing from his clients for years, taking advantage of them during their time of grief and pocketing their money.

The episode begins by giving viewers a glimpse into Smart's early life and career. Born in rural Mississippi, Smart had always been drawn to the funeral business. He moved to Memphis in the 1960s and quickly established himself as a successful funeral director, becoming a well-known and respected figure in the community. Smart's business flourished over the years, and by the early 2000s, he was operating multiple funeral homes in the Memphis area.

However, behind the scenes, Smart was engaged in a massive fraud scheme. He had been preying on grieving families, convincing them to pay for high-priced funeral packages and then pocketing the money. Smart would also forge death certificates and insurance documents in order to take out policies in the names of the deceased, netting even more money for himself.

The show interviews several of Smart's victims, who describe the callous and manipulative tactics he used to dupe them into paying more than they needed to for funerals. In one particularly shocking example, a woman describes how Smart convinced her to spend $10,000 on a casket for her husband's funeral, even though he was being cremated. She later discovered that the casket had not even been used and was able to get a refund, but many other families were not so lucky.

As Smart's fraud scheme continued to escalate, he became increasingly desperate to cover his tracks. In 2002, he hired a man named Mark Rains to burn down one of his funeral homes, hoping to destroy the evidence of his fraud. However, the fire did not destroy all of the documents, and investigators were still able to uncover Smart's scheme.

In a shocking turn of events, the investigation into Smart's fraud scheme would ultimately lead to his downfall in an entirely different way. A year after the fire, Rains approached police and confessed to his role in the arson, as well as revealing a much darker crime. According to Rains, Smart had paid him to murder a man named Sean Rich, who had been helping the authorities investigate Smart's fraud scheme.

The episode details the investigation into Rich's murder, which ultimately led to Smart's arrest and conviction for his role in the killing. The case shocked the community and exposed Smart for the ruthless and dangerous criminal he truly was.

Overall, season 8 episode 1 of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels, and Scandals is a gripping and disturbing look into the life and crimes of Clayton Smart. The episode is a reminder of the devastating impact that greed and corruption can have on individuals and communities, and serves as a cautionary tale for those who may be tempted to engage in fraud and deceit.