It was the day before Thanksgiving in 2020 when tragedy struck a small town in Illinois. In Mt. Morris, responders rushed to a house fire, only to find a heartbreaking scene. Inside the home, 27-year-old Melissa Lamesch was discovered lying on the kitchen floor near the oven. Melissa, a beloved EMT who was just two days away from giving birth to a baby boy, was dead.
At first, investigators weren’t sure if the fire was an accident or something more sinister. But as they dug deeper, suspicions grew. The oven and stove burners were all off, and there were no electrical issues in the house. An autopsy revealed no soot in Melissa’s lungs and normal carbon monoxide levels, ruling out smoke inhalation. Instead, there were signs of strangulation. This shocking discovery led investigators to a grim conclusion—Melissa had been murdered before the fire started, likely to cover up the crime. But the burning question remained: who could have done this to Melissa, and why?
Melissa’s family described her as a kind-hearted woman excited to become a mother. She was ready to raise her son, even on her own, with the support of her loved ones. But not everyone in her life shared that excitement. Investigators quickly turned their attention to 33-year-old Matthew Plote, a firefighter-paramedic and the father of Melissa’s unborn child.
When Melissa told Matthew she was pregnant, she was taken aback by his reaction. According to Melissa’s sister, Cassie Baal, Melissa thought Matthew would embrace the news. Instead, she saw a different, colder side of him, which left her deeply upset. Matthew kept the pregnancy a secret, even from his parents and co-workers at the Carol Stream Fire District. Fire Chief Rob Schultz found this behavior unusual, noting that firefighters typically share personal news with their team, especially something as life-changing as becoming a parent.
Despite his lack of enthusiasm, Melissa tried to keep Matthew involved by occasionally sending him sonograms. He responded sporadically, leaving her unsure about his intentions. Melissa didn’t ask for support or make any demands. But as her due date approached, prosecutors believed Matthew became increasingly anxious about how fatherhood might disrupt his life. Ogle County Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Huntley speculated that Matthew’s secretive behavior stemmed from a desperate hope that the baby wouldn’t be born.
The investigation gathered pace, and in March 2022, Matthew Plote was arrested on charges of murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, and arson. Prosecutors pointed to evidence placing him at Melissa’s house on the day of the fire—a fact Matthew himself admitted. He claimed he visited to discuss plans for being involved in the baby’s life and said they talked about finances before he left as Melissa prepared lunch.
But prosecutors didn’t buy his story. They believed he killed Melissa, set the fire to stage an accident, and tried to make it look like she had been cooking when the tragedy occurred. Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Kruse described it as a calculated attempt to cover his tracks.
The case left many stunned, especially those who worked alongside Matthew. Fire Chief Schultz expressed disbelief, saying, “It doesn’t chime with what a firefighter is. We put fires out. We don’t start fires. We help people. We don’t hurt people.”
The tragic loss of Melissa and her unborn son continues to haunt her family and the community of Mt. Morris. Her story serves as a stark reminder that appearances can be deceiving and underscores the need for justice in the face of unimaginable heartbreak.
