Murdered & Burned: Pregnant EMT Strangled Before House Fire Claims Two Lives
In a shocking case that rocked the small town of Mount Morris, Illinois, a house fire on November 25, 2020, turned what should have been a joyful Thanksgiving holiday into a devastating tragedy. Melissa Lish, a 27-year-old EMT paramedic who was nine months pregnant, perished in the blaze that consumed her father's home where she had been living during the final weeks of her pregnancy. First responders arrived to find heavy smoke billowing from the single-story wood-frame house, but despite their quick efforts, they were unable to save Melissa or her unborn son, whom the family had already named Barrett.
The circumstances surrounding the fire immediately raised concerns among investigators and family members alike. As a trained EMT paramedic, Melissa should have been able to escape the ranch-style home with its three accessible exits within 20 feet of her location. The Illinois State Police fire marshal determined that the fire originated in a kitchen cabinet above the stove and appeared to be man-made rather than an electrical accident. This discovery shifted the investigation toward potential arson, with authorities focusing on identifying who last had contact with Melissa before the tragic incident.
Key Takeaways
A suspicious house fire claimed the life of a pregnant EMT paramedic just days before her scheduled delivery.
Investigators quickly determined the fire was likely not accidental based on its origin in a kitchen cabinet.
The victim's training and proximity to multiple exits raised immediate questions about why she couldn't escape the blaze.
Emergency Call and Fire Discovery
On November 25, 2020—the night before Thanksgiving—a concerned neighbor contacted emergency services after noticing thick smoke pouring from a residence in Mount Morris, Illinois. "There's a house smoking on South Hannah, just up the street," the caller reported to the 911 dispatcher. When asked about the severity, they responded, "It's heavy smoke... all I know is I see smoke, lots of smoke."
The home belonged to 27-year-old Melissa Lish, who was nine months pregnant and just days away from a scheduled induction. Multiple fire departments and the Ogle County Sheriff's Office quickly dispatched crews to the scene. First responders reported finding a single-story wood-frame structure with significant smoke visible from the roof.
Melissa was living in her father Gus's home during the final stages of her pregnancy, with plans for a quiet Thanksgiving celebration together. That day held special significance for the family, as it was also the birthday of Melissa's youngest sister Julia. Gus had left the residence earlier to purchase a birthday cake, unaware of the tragedy unfolding at his home.
The fire crews worked efficiently to control the blaze, establishing multiple lines and checking for hotspots. Once they had the situation under control, firefighters entered the structure to search for occupants. After making their way through the living room, they discovered Melissa's body in the kitchen area.
Emergency personnel removed Melissa from the house and attempted resuscitation on the lawn, but it was too late. At just 27 years old, Melissa Lish was pronounced dead—along with her unborn son, whom the family had already named Barrett.
Family members stood in shock at the scene as nine responding agencies worked throughout the night. The following day—Thanksgiving—they gathered at a relative's home, still processing their loss. In their distress, they accidentally set an extra place at the table, a painful reminder of Melissa's absence.
What initially seemed like a tragic accident soon raised suspicions among investigators. As a trained EMT and paramedic, Melissa had the knowledge to escape a fire, especially in a ranch-style home with multiple exits nearby. The Illinois State Fire Marshal determined the fire originated in a kitchen cabinet above the stove, raising concerns that this wasn't an electrical fire but potentially deliberately set.
The fire caused heavy damage to specific areas of the home rather than destroying the entire structure. This pattern, combined with other findings, led investigators to suspect arson. For the small community of Mount Morris, described by locals as "Smallville USA," such a crime was nearly unheard of.
Background on Melissa Lish
Melissa Lish was a vibrant 27-year-old who worked as an EMT and was training to become a paramedic. She had a complex personality that combined warmth with determination. According to family members, she could light up a room when she entered, showing a unique mix of sweetness and strong-willed persistence.
In her younger years, Melissa was somewhat shy, but gradually became more outgoing through her high school years. After graduation, she attended community colleges briefly before discovering her calling in emergency medical services. She was living in her father Gus's home in Mount Morris, Illinois during the final stages of her pregnancy.
On November 25, 2020—the day before Thanksgiving and her younger sister's birthday—tragedy struck. A fire broke out at the home where Melissa was staying. Despite being a trained emergency responder and having multiple exit points accessible, she did not escape the blaze. First responders found her body in the kitchen area of the home.
The circumstances were particularly heartbreaking as Melissa was nine months pregnant with her son, whom she had named Barrett. She was just two days away from a scheduled induction at the hospital. Her family described her as excited about becoming a mother, though she had initially experienced some apprehension about the journey into parenthood.
Investigators quickly determined the fire's origin was in a cabinet above the stove, raising suspicions that this wasn't an electrical accident but potentially arson. The Illinois State Police fire marshal confirmed the blaze appeared to be man-made, triggering a deeper investigation into who might have been responsible for the devastating fire that claimed both Melissa and her unborn child.
Initial Fire Response and Investigation
On November 25, 2020, the evening before Thanksgiving, emergency services responded to reports of smoke coming from a home in Mount Morris, Illinois. Callers described "heavy smoke" and alarms sounding from inside the residence. Multiple fire protection districts were quickly dispatched to the home of 27-year-old Melissa Lish, who was nine months pregnant and living in her father's house.
Fire crews arrived to find significant smoke billowing from the roof of the single-story wood frame structure. They worked efficiently to control the blaze, establishing multiple lines and eventually bringing the fire under control. During their search of the residence, firefighters made a devastating discovery in the kitchen area—Melissa's body.
Despite attempts at resuscitation after removing her from the structure, Melissa was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her family, who had been notified about the fire, were left in a state of shock. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that Melissa had been just two days away from being induced to deliver her son, whom she had planned to name Barrett.
What raised immediate concerns among investigators was how a trained EMT and paramedic had been unable to escape the home. The ranch-style house had three exits within 20 feet of where she was found, leading authorities to suspect something prevented her escape. This detail troubled both investigators and Melissa's family.
The Illinois State Police Fire Marshal was called to examine the scene. Their investigation revealed that while there was heavy damage in certain areas, the home had not been completely destroyed. The fire's origin point was identified as a cabinet above the stove in the kitchen. Investigators quickly determined this was not an electrical fire that started within the walls.
Instead, evidence pointed to a man-made fire—potential arson. The investigation began to focus on identifying who might have been responsible. Authorities interviewed family members to establish a timeline of Melissa's last known contacts. They learned that Melissa's older sister Cassandra and younger brother Gus had spoken with her earlier that day.
A key discovery emerged: witnesses reported that a man named Matthew Ploy was the last person seen at the house on the day of the fire. This information shifted the investigation in a new direction as authorities sought to understand what happened in the final hours before the blaze began.
The circumstances surrounding the fire seemed increasingly suspicious as investigators pieced together the evidence. The small town of Mount Morris, described by locals as "Smallville USA," rarely experienced crimes of this nature, making the case all the more shocking to the community.
Melissa's family, meanwhile, faced the painful task of contacting the hospital where she had been scheduled to deliver her baby just days later. What should have been a celebration of new life had instead become a devastating loss of both mother and child.
The nature of the fire, combined with the victim's inability to escape despite her emergency training, convinced investigators that this case required deeper scrutiny beyond an accidental house fire.
Family's Reaction and the Aftermath of the Tragedy
The Lish family experienced devastating shock when they received news of the fire at Gus Lish's home where Melissa had been staying during her pregnancy. On that November evening—also the birthday of Melissa's youngest sister Julia—the family's world shattered. Carl, Melissa's brother, made the initial call informing the family about the house fire while they were preparing for birthday celebrations.
With mounting concern, family members desperately tried to determine if Melissa was in the house. One relative called authorities to check if Melissa's car was at the property, hoping she might have been running errands instead of at home.
The confirmation of Melissa's death left the family completely numb. The 27-year-old EMT-paramedic was just two days away from being induced to deliver her son Barrett. Despite her training and the presence of three exits within 20 feet, she hadn't escaped the flames—raising immediate questions for her grieving family.
Thanksgiving Day arrived with the family in profound mourning. They gathered at a grandmother's house, where in their state of shock, they accidentally set an extra place at the table—a heartbreaking reminder of their sudden loss. The next morning brought the sobering realization that they needed to contact the hospital where Melissa had been scheduled to arrive for her induction.
Melissa's mother described her daughter as someone who "lit up a room" with her presence. She had a multifaceted personality—a combination of sweetness and determination. Family members recalled how Melissa evolved from a shy child to an outgoing young woman who found her calling as an EMT-paramedic after trying various community college programs.
The circumstances of the fire deeply troubled both investigators and family members. For a trained first responder to be unable to escape a ranch-style home raised serious concerns. This suspicion intensified when fire investigators determined the blaze originated in a kitchen cabinet above the stove, pointing to human involvement rather than an electrical malfunction.
As officials sifted through the charred remains, the investigation increasingly focused on potential arson. The fire showed heavy damage in specific areas but had not completely destroyed the structure. The Illinois State Police fire marshal's involvement signaled the serious nature of the case, which would soon reveal unexpected complexities in Melissa's final hours.
Questioning the Circumstances of the Fire
The initial findings at Melissa Lish's home raised significant concerns among investigators. Though the fire caused heavy damage in certain areas, it did not completely destroy the structure. The Illinois State Police fire marshal determined the fire originated in a kitchen cabinet above the stove—not from an electrical issue within the walls, but likely from human intervention. This discovery shifted the investigation toward potential arson.
For Melissa's family, the circumstances simply didn't add up. As a trained EMT and paramedic, Melissa had the knowledge and skills to escape a house fire. The single-story ranch home had three exits within 20 feet of her location, yet she never made it out. This troubling detail suggested something prevented her escape.
The fire's unusual pattern further fueled suspicions. Experts noted concentrated damage in specific areas rather than a typical house fire spread. Local authorities, unaccustomed to suspicious deaths in small-town Mount Morris, described it as "the kind of crime that does not happen out here in Ogle County."
The timing of the tragedy added another layer of heartbreak. Melissa was just two days away from being induced to deliver her son Barrett. Her family had been preparing for this joyful event, even speaking with her earlier that day about final arrangements before her hospital visit.
Investigators began methodically interviewing people in Melissa's life. They spoke with family members who had recent contact with her, including her older sister Cassandra Ball and younger brother Gus. Through these conversations, authorities identified Matthew Ploy as the last person witnesses reported seeing at Melissa's house that day.
Police continued gathering evidence and testimonies, determined to understand what prevented a trained first responder from escaping a fire in her own home. The unusual circumstances prompted deeper questioning: was this truly a tragic accident, or was something more sinister at play?
Subsequent Investigation and Arson Suspicions
After the initial firefighting efforts concluded at the Lish home, investigators began a thorough examination of the scene. What they discovered raised significant concerns about the nature of the fire. While some areas sustained heavy damage, the structure remained largely intact, prompting specialists to look more closely at how the blaze originated.
The Illinois State Police fire marshal was called to conduct a professional assessment. Their analysis determined the fire's origin point was a seemingly random kitchen cabinet positioned above the stove. This finding immediately ruled out common accidental causes like electrical faults within the walls.
Experts quickly classified the fire as "man-made," suggesting possible arson. This determination was particularly troubling given Melissa's background as a trained EMT and paramedic. With her professional experience and the home's ranch-style layout featuring multiple accessible exits, investigators found it difficult to understand why she couldn't escape.
The circumstances raised serious questions among both investigators and Melissa's family. As one family member noted, they would have more readily accepted a medical emergency explanation like a heart attack or stroke rather than the increasingly suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
Law enforcement began interviewing people in Melissa's life to establish a timeline of her final day. They learned her older sister Cassandra and brother Gus had spoken with her earlier. More significantly, witnesses reported that a man named Matthew Ploy was the last person seen at the house before the fire.
The investigation shifted toward understanding Melissa's relationship with Ploy, particularly as she had been reluctant to identify her unborn child's father to her family. The quiet town of Mount Morris—described by locals as "Smallville USA"—was unaccustomed to crimes of this nature, making the investigation all the more shocking to the community.
Focusing on the Last Known Contact
Investigators began piecing together Melissa Lish's final hours by identifying who had spoken with her on November 25, 2020. Family members provided crucial information about her communications that day.
Her older sister Cassandra Ball and younger brother Gus both confirmed having conversations with Melissa earlier in the day. These interactions helped establish a partial timeline leading up to the fire that claimed her life.
Most significantly, authorities discovered Matthew Ploy was reportedly the last person seen at the house before the incident. This information quickly became a central focus of the investigation, creating a potentially critical lead for investigators to pursue.
As a trained EMT and paramedic, Melissa's inability to escape the ranch-style home raised immediate suspicions. The property had three exits within 20 feet of her location, yet she didn't manage to get out. This detail particularly troubled both family members and investigators.
The fire marshal's findings further complicated the case. Rather than an electrical issue within the walls, the fire's origin was traced to a specific cabinet above the stove in the kitchen - pointing to human intervention rather than accidental causes.
Combined with the layout of the home and Melissa's training, these circumstances led investigators to believe something prevented her escape. The evidence increasingly suggested a deliberate act rather than a tragic accident.
