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The 2020 murder of Melissa Lamesch and her unborn son by Matthew Plote will be the subject of the next 48 Hours episode on CBS.
Matthew Plote, the father of Melissa's unborn child, was found guilty of the crime in 2024 and given a life sentence in jail in addition to several additional sentences. Plote is currently incarcerated at the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The 48 Hours episode focusing on this case is titled The Firefighter’s Secret. It will air on CBS on November 30, 2024, at 10 pm ET.
Melissa Lamesch's murder was staged as an accident by Matthew Plote
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Melissa Lamesch was discovered deceased inside her residence on November 25, 2020, as per CBS NEWS. First responders arrived at her house to check out a house fire and found her lying in the kitchen. Though her death was initially believed her death to be an accident, there were no indications of any electrical problems or potential gas leaks that might have started the fire.
According to Melissa's autopsy, the carbon monoxide levels in her lungs were normal and there was no presence of soot. The autopsy also revealed that she was strangled which was ruled out as the probable cause of death. When Melissa was murdered, she was expecting a son, and the child also perished in her womb.
How did Matthew Plote become a suspect?
During the investigation into Melissa's death, the investigators discovered that Matthew Plote, a paramedic firefighter, was the father of the child the victim was carrying. Reportedly, Plote kept the baby a secret from everyone, and as speculated by investigators, he didn’t want to have the baby as it would alter his way of life.
Plote was initially arrested on March 9, 2022, as per CBS News, and during interrogations, it was revealed that he had gone to meet Melissa before the house caught fire. Confirming the same, defense attorney John Kopp told 48 Hours:
"He told them everything … about his presence there, he didn't hide any of that. He says his client went there to discuss plans for being involved in the baby's life. They discussed their finances. And then Matt left as she was making some lunch."
However, the prosecutors didn’t believe this story and were convinced that he killed her and staged the scene as an accident.
Plote was found guilty on March 25, 2024, of :
- First-degree murder, for which he got a life sentence
- Residential arson, for which he got a 15-year prison term
- Intentional homicide of an unborn child, for which he got a sentence of 60 years in prison.
According to a press release, Matthew Plote, full name Matthew T. Plote, was "sentenced to serve a natural life sentence" on June 27, 2024, by State Attorney Mike Rock of Ogle County.
After the case concluded almost 4 years after the murder of Melissa, Rock revealed :
“I would like thank law enforcement and Assistant State’s Attorneys Heather Kruse and Allison Huntley for their hard work and dedication to this case.”
As per a November 30 report by WIFR, Lamesch’s mother, Deanna, spoke to the publication after Matthew Plote's verdict and sentencing and said:
“To actually hear that is what he will serve as a sentence, is a little bit of relief. Just because of all of our pain and trauma.”
To learn more about Melissa Lamesch's murder, watch the upcoming episode of 48 Hours on CBS titled The Firefighter’s Secret, airing on November 30, 2024, at 10 pm ET.
