Illinois Firefighter's Deadly Secret Uncovered

In Mt. Morris, Illinois, 27-year-old Melissa Lamesch was found dead in a house fire, initially thought to be accidental but later determined to be arson. Investigators discovered she was strangled before the fire, and suspicion fell on Matthew Plote, a firefighter-paramedic and the father of Lamesch's unborn child. Plote, who had kept the pregnancy a secret, was arrested in 2022 on charges including murder and arson. Prosecutors allege he set the fire to cover up the murder, while Plote claims he left Lamesch alive after discussing their future.