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Melissa Lamesch was a pregnant young woman, who was found brunt dead on the kitchen floor of her apartment on November 27, 2020. Melissa was expecting her child to be delivered in the next three days and shifted to her father's residence on S. Hannah Avenue in Mount Morris, Illinois.
An Emergency Medical Technician, Melissa was impregnated out of wedlock and was supported by her family during her labor. When the firefighters and paramedics reached the scene, they found her body lying face down, with her dead unborn baby. The investigators at first considered it to be an accident due to a house fire.
However, the autopsy reports of Melissa Lamesch, revealed an entirely different story, exposing a gruesome murder plan. The complete investigation behind the murder of Melissa Lamesch is documented in People Magazine Investigates Season 8, Episode 11 titled Inferno of Lies. The episode first aired on November 30, 2024. Viewers can watch the episode again on December 31, 2024, at 12:00 am EST on Investigation Discovery.
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What is the story behind Melissa Lamesch's murder?
As reported by CBS News, Melissa Lamesch was a 27-year-old woman, who was working as an EMT, when she was murdered. Melissa had four siblings, and all of them were completely supportive of her, while she was pregnant. Her partner, Matthew Plote was a firefighter at the Carol Streams Fire Department.
The couple met in 2013 while in college, and soon started dating and having casual hookups. However, by the time Matthew realized that Melissa was pregnant, he abandoned both her and the baby. As per CBS, Melissa's parents Gus and Deanna Lamesch, took complete responsibility for the child. However, Melissa Lamesch still wanted Matthew to be a part of the baby's life.
Melissa's sister Cassie Baal reported that Matthew would constantly ignore her actions to make him unite with the family. As per Cassie, Melissa would send sonogram pictures of the baby to the father, however, he mostly ignored or denied acknowledging them.
As per a WIFR article, published on November 30, 2024, Chief Rob Schultz from Carol Stream Fire District reported, that no one in the station knew about Matthew's upcoming baby. Upon Melissa's autopsy reports, forensic experts Dr. Amanda Youmans and Dr. Mark Peters revealed that Melissa Lamesch died of strangulation, and not because of a housefire.
The amount of carbon monoxide in her body was completely normal, while no smoke was found in her lungs. Additionally, bleeding sports and bruising were found on the victim's body, indicating a sign of violent struggle. The death of Melissa Lamesch eventually shifted towards a case of homicide.
The Investigation behind the murderer of Melissa Lamesch
As reported by Cassie Baal, she had a conversation with her sister Melissa on November 27, 2020. The conversation was cut short when Melissa informed her that Matthew Plote had knocked on her door. Melissa's Lamesch also told the investigators that he had a conversation with Matthew and knew he was coming to visit her that day.
As per CBS, when Lieutenant Brian Ketter put him under questioning, Matthew narrated that he did visit Melissa that day, only to discuss the money needed to deliver the baby. After repeated questioning, Matthew stuck to his story, saying he left the house that afternoon, while Melissa talked about cooking food.
However, the case took a sharp turn when investigators retrieved DNA samples under the victim's fingernails and matched them with Matthew Plote. Leitenant Brian Ketter said, that both samples matched, which solved the case completely. It was on March 9, 2022, when Matthew Plote finally confessed to having murdered his pregnant partner Melissa Lamesch.
His trial began after two years on March 18, 2024, in Ogle County. The state contended that Matthew did not care for Melissa or the baby. It was in March 2024, when he was found guilty of 10 charges. On June 27, 2024, Matthew Plote was sentenced to lifetime imprisonment for the murder of Melissa Lamesch. He was provided with a sentence of 60 extra years for murdering the unborn child, added with 15 years for setting the house on fire.
Watch People Magazine Investigates Season 8, Episode 11 titled Inferno of Lies on December 31, 2024, at 12:00 am EST on Investigation Discovery.
