Did an Illinois firefighter have a secret he was willing to kill for? | Global News Avenue

Crews respond to a house fire in Mount Morris, Illinois, on November 25, 2020, the day before Thanksgiving. Inside they found 27-year-old Melissa Lamesch, dead on the floor next to the kitchen oven.

Initially, investigators were unsure whether the fire was intentional or accidental. But upon closer inspection, they believed foul play was involved and the fire was arson. They found no electrical issues in the house and were told the oven and range were in the off position. An autopsy conducted on Ramesh revealed that there was no soot in her lungs and her carbon monoxide levels were normal, but there were signs of strangulation. Investigators concluded that Ramesh was murdered before the fire broke out. But why would anyone want to kill Melissa Ramesh?

48 Hours contributor Nikki Battiste on “Fireman’s Secret” Airs Saturday, November 30 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Ramesh was just two days away from giving birth to a baby boy when the fire broke out. She is a dedicated first responder and is delighted to be a parent. However, investigators learned someone was less enthusiastic: the baby’s father-to-be, 33-year-old Matthew Plote, a firefighter and paramedic.

Ramesh’s sister, Cassie Baal, said she was surprised by Plott’s reaction when Ramesh let him know she was pregnant with his child. “Melissa thought he would want to do something with the kids. She thought he was a really good guy at this point,” Barr told “48 Hours.” “She saw a different side of him and it frustrated her.”

Investigators learned that Plott kept the fact that he was going to be a father secret, including from his parents and co-workers. Fire Chief Rob Schultz of the Carroll Creek Fire Protection District, where Plott works, explained to Baptiste how unusual it is for someone to not talk about major life events that happen at the firehouse. “We’re here 24 hours a day,” Schultz said. “It’s – well, the normal process of being a firefighter … you talk about your family, your personal life, the good, bad or insignificant things that have happened.”

Although Plott seemed uninterested in becoming a father, Ramesh kept in touch with him occasionally and even sent him sonograms. “Sometimes he would react a little bit, but she didn’t know exactly where he was standing,” Barr said.

However, Ramesh is ready to take care of the child alone with the help of his family. Although Ramesh did not seek any type of support from Plott, investigators believe that as her due date grew closer, Plott became increasingly concerned that having a baby would change his lifestyle, which is why he Reasons for keeping secrets from children.

“He kept a secret – he had a child and hoped that the child would not be born,” Ogle County Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Huntley told Batiste.

The state began prosecuting Plott. He was arrested on March 9, 2022 on charges including murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child and arson.

There is evidence that Plott was at Ramesch’s home on the day of the fire – something Plott admitted when he spoke with investigators. “He told them everything … everything about him being there, he didn’t hide anything,” defense attorney John Kopp told 48 Hours. He said his clients went there to discuss plans to get involved in the baby’s life. “They discussed their financial situation,” Kopp said. “Then Matt left while she was making lunch.”

Prosecutors suspect Plott lied about Ramesh being alive when he left and set fire to the house in an attempt to cover his tracks. “I believe from the beginning he was trying to make up a story that there was an accidental fire in the house and she had been cooking,” Ogle County Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Crews said. “That would explain why she The body was found in the kitchen.”

To Chief Schultz, the idea of ​​a firefighter causing harm was unthinkable. “It’s not consistent with who you are as a firefighter,” he told “48 Hours.” “We put out fires. We don’t start fires. We help people. We don’t hurt people.”