The episode “48 Hours” details the 2020 murder of a Mt Morris woman

(WIFR) – The CBS true crime series 48 Hours will have an episode titled ” The Fireman’s Secretabout the murder of 27-year-old Melissa Lamesch by 36-year-old Matthew Plote.

On November 27, 2020, Lamesch was found dead in her burning home in the 200 block of S. Hannah Avenue in Mt. Morris. At the time of her death, the birth of her child was only a few days away.

According to investigators, Plote, a former firefighter, and Lamesch were involved and she became pregnant. When questioned by the police, he admitted that he had been at the Lamesch house on the day of her death, but that she was still alive when he left.

An autopsy of Lamesch’s body found that there were no signs of smoke inhalation, suggesting she had died before the fire was set. In fact, a medical examiner discovered signs of injury consistent with strangulation.

During the trial, prosecutors claimed that Plote kept the pregnancy a secret from his family. The state argued that Plote did not want to be a father.

“He didn’t care about Melissa or her baby,” Ogle County Assistant Prosecutor Heather Kruse tells 48 Hours.

Kruse and her associates also argued that the fire was Plote’s attempt to cover up the murder. According to Rob Schultz, former chief of Plot’s Carol Stream Fire District, this goes against what it means to be a firefighter.

“We put out fires. We don’t set fires,” Chief Schultz told 48 Hours. “We help people. We don’t hurt people.”

It was a cold day in March 2024 when a jury decided Plote was guilty of all 10 counts, including first-degree murder and residential arson. In June, Plote was sentenced not only to life imprisonment, but also to an additional 60 years for the murder of the unborn child and 15 years for arson.

Lamesch’s mother, Deanna, told WIFR that the verdict and sentence was a light at the end of a dark tunnel.

“It’s a little bit of a relief to actually hear that this is the sentence he’s going to serve,” Deanna said. “Just because of all our pain and trauma.”

The Fireman’s Secret airs Saturday, November 30 at 9 p.m. on CBS.

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