On November 25, 2020, just a day before Thanksgiving, a devastating house fire tore through an unassuming home in Mt. Morris, Illinois. Inside, 27-year-old Melissa Lamesch lay dead on the kitchen floor, a tragic scene that would soon unfold into a complex investigation of murder and arson. Melissa’s lifeless body was discovered near the oven, raising immediate suspicions among the responding firefighters about the circumstances surrounding her death.
- Melissa Lamesch found dead in house fire.
- Arson suspected after investigation findings.
- Lamesch was two days from childbirth.
- Matthew Plote's troubled reaction to pregnancy.
- Plote arrested on multiple serious charges.
- Firefighter's actions shocked his community.
Initially, investigators found no clear signs of how the fire had started. There were no electrical issues in the house, and both the oven and stove burners were off. However, as the forensic examination progressed, it became increasingly apparent that foul play was involved. An autopsy revealed no soot in Melissa’s lungs and normal carbon monoxide levels, yet signs of strangulation suggested she had been murdered before the flames consumed her home. The shocking realization struck—someone had taken her life, and the fire that followed was no mere accident.
As investigators dug deeper, they discovered that Melissa was close to giving birth to a baby boy. She had been eagerly awaiting motherhood, filled with excitement and anticipation. Yet, this joy was marred by a complicated relationship with the father of her child, 33-year-old Matthew Plote, a firefighter-paramedic with the Carol Stream Fire District. While Melissa embraced her impending parenthood, Matthew’s reaction was markedly different. According to Melissa’s sister, Cassie Baal, upon sharing the news of her pregnancy, Melissa was taken aback by Matthew’s lack of enthusiasm. “Melissa thought he would want something to do with the baby,” Cassie recounted, noting that the news changed her sister’s perception of him.
Evidence surfaced that Matthew had kept the pregnancy a secret—not only from his parents but also from his colleagues. Rob Schultz, fire chief at the Carol Stream Fire District, pointed out how unusual it was for a firefighter to remain silent about such a significant life event while working in close quarters with peers. “We’re here 24 hours a day. It’s just normal to share what’s happening in your personal life,” he remarked.
Despite their complicated relationship, Melissa maintained sporadic contact with Matthew, sending him sonograms of their unborn child. Observers suggest that as her due date approached, Matthew’s anxiety about the life-altering implications of fatherhood grew. Ogle County Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Huntley explained, “He was keeping a secret—the fact that he fathered a baby—in the hopes that the child wouldn’t be born.”
As the investigation unfolded, authorities began building a case against Matthew, who was eventually arrested on March 9, 2022. His charges included murder, the intentional homicide of an unborn child, and arson. The prosecution presented evidence indicating that Matthew had visited Melissa’s home on the day of the fire, a fact he did not deny during police interviews. He insisted that he had gone there to discuss plans for his involvement in their child’s life. “They discussed their finances,” said Matthew’s defense attorney, John Kopp, noting that Melissa was making lunch when he left.
However, prosecutors suspected that Matthew’s account was not entirely truthful. They believed he had set the house ablaze in an attempt to cover up the truth, fabricating a narrative of an accidental fire. “I believe from the very beginning he was trying to set up a story that there was an accidental house fire, that she had been cooking something,” stated Heather Kruse, an assistant state’s attorney. Their theory suggested that Matthew’s motive for murder was not merely the fear of becoming a father, but a desperate attempt to erase the consequences of his actions.
The case drew widespread attention, prompting community outrage and disbelief that a fireman—someone trained to save lives—could be implicated in such a heinous act. “It doesn’t chime with what a firefighter is,” Chief Schultz stated, expressing the shock felt by those who knew Matthew. “We put fires out. We don’t start fires. We help people. We don’t hurt people.”
As the legal proceedings continue, the community remains on edge, anticipating how this tragic tale of betrayal, fear, and violence will unfold in the courtroom. While Matthew Plote’s trial awaits its next steps, the memory of Melissa Lamesch and the mystery surrounding her death continue to linger in the air, a tragic reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the dark turns they can take.
