330. The Monster on Rose Avenue: Lisa French

It should have been a time of celebration. Melissa Lamesch, a 27-year-old EMT, was just two days away from giving birth to her baby boy. Instead, her home in Mt. Morris, Illinois, was engulfed in flames on Thanksgiving Eve. First responders treated the scene as a terrible accident, but the medical examiner soon delivered a shock: Melissa had died before the fire even began. That truth exposed a dark motive, one rooted in a secret relationship and the imminent arrival of a child the father did not want. Join Jen and Cam as they discuss "The Deadline: Melissa Lamesch." Thank you to our team Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of The Inky Pawprint ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theinkypawprint.com⁠⁠ Sources: https://people.com/melissa-lamesch-death-people-magazine-investigates-8766788 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta0IUWG5Zss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZVCTWFkR90 https://www.finchfuneral.com/obituaries/melissa-lamesch https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/277013872/melissa-deanne-lamesch https://www.cbsnews.com/news/melissa-lamesch-matthew-plote-illinois-firefighter-accused-of-staging-house-fire-to-cover-up-murder-48-hours/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/696991681/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/697561140/?match=1&clipping_id=182247891 https://www.newspapers.com/image/697561135/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/700693973/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20obituary https://www.newspapers.com/image/824364094/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 (Plote arrest) https://www.newspapers.com/image/825964251/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/894952081/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/831529455/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/831529533/?terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/824453855/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/839290648/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/833170919/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1024379826/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/959058622/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1021227602/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1021227580/?terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1057262119/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1147080532/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1144701359/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1092816504/?match=1&terms=%22Melissa%20Lamesch%22%20 (guilty) People Magazine Investigates: Season 8 Episode 11 Inferno of Lies (I watched it on HBO) https://www.wifr.com/2024/03/22/she-said-she'd-call-me-right-back-plote-trial-gains-powerful-witness-testimonies/ https://thecinemaholic.com/melissa-lamesch-family/ info on parents and siblings https://thecinemaholic.com/matthew-plote/ . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22 Okt 47min

Every Monday, poet and paranormal obsessive Heidi Wong unearths the chilling true stories behind the world’s most terrifying legends. From haunted dolls to cursed houses, each episode of Twisted Tales reveals the disturbing real-life events that inspired horror’s biggest blockbusters and the ones too twisted to make it to screen. Some stories are stranger than fiction. These are darker. New episodes every Monday. Twisted Tales is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen here: https://link.podtrac.com/listentotwistedtales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 Okt 28min

In the summer of 2016, Gaylin Rose had moved her 4 little girls to Flora, a small town of just over 2,000 residents, seeking a fresh start. The two-story duplex cost $500 a month to rent, and by autumn, they were settling into a routine. Rose had secured a job at a nearby gas station, while her daughters threw themselves into school, cheerleading, and making new friends. On the night of November 20, Rose tucked her daughters into their bunkbeds upstairs. Rose retired to her bedroom on the lower floor. At 3:00 a.m., silence gave way to chaos. Thick plumes of smoke curled up over East Columbia Street. By the time fire trucks left for the scene, a three-story apartment building at 103 East Columbia was already engulfed in flames.   The four sisters — Kionnie Welch, 5; Kerriele McDonald, 7; Keyara Phillips, 9; and Keyana Davis, 11  would not survive. Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast as we discuss ‘Lost in the Ashes: The Flora Fire Four.’ Today’s episode was a special request by Shaniece. Thanks for reaching out. If you have any information about the Flora arson case, call the Indiana State Police at 800‑382‑4628 or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. Listener discretion by @octoberpodVHS Music is by our EP @theinkypawprint Sources:  https://www.wishtv.com/news/i-team-8/a-chase-for-answers-questions-remain-after-flora-fire-kills-4-girls/ https://fox59.com/dashboard-camera-video-reveals-rescue-attempt-in-deadly-flora-fire/ https://fox59.com/news/8-years-later-isp-discusses-deadly-flora-house-fire-that-left-4-girls-dead/ https://www.jconline.com/story/news/crime/2025/07/07/fbi-state-police-go-door-to-door-to-try-to-solve-fatal-2016-flora-fire/84494391007/ https://fox59.com/news/8-years-later-isp-discusses-deadly-flora-house-fire-that-left-4-girls-dead/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK4fmbGAAmM https://www.wishtv.com/news/i-team-8/the-chase-for-answers-mom-shares-anger-heartache-7-years-after-flora-fire-killed-4-girls/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15 Okt 35min

UPDATE: When we first covered Robert Eugene Brashers back in April 2025, we never imagined he’d be tied to one of Texas’s most infamous crimes: the 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders. Now, advanced DNA testing has confirmed his link to the horrific killings that haunted Austin for more than three decades. On December 6, 1991, four teenage girls, Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, Eliza Thomas, and Amy Ayers, were found bound, gagged, and shot inside an I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop that had been set on fire. The case became one of Texas’s deepest mysteries, spawning thousands of leads, false confessions, and the wrongful convictions of two young men later cleared by DNA evidence. Now stay tuned for episode 305: “Genetic Justice: Unmasking Robert Brashers.” From the original airdate: For years, Robert Brashers had managed to evade justice, slipping through the cracks repeatedly. But on January 13, 1999, his luck finally ran out in a modest motel room in Kennett, Missouri. What began as a routine police search quickly escalated into a tense, life-or-death standoff that would forever change the lives of those involved. Who was Robert Brashers? A man who his wife and children loved. What could have driven him to such a tragic end?  The entire truth would remain hidden for years, with whispers suggesting that there were more victims out there.   Join Jen and Cam of Our True Crime Podcast on this episode, "Genetic Justice: Unmasking Robert Brashers.”  Listener Discretion by @octoberpodVHS Music is by our executive producer @theinkypawprint Sources:  https://www.facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery/videos/connected-by-murder-on-the-case-with-paula-zahn/2284387901877879/ https://greenvillejournal.com/tag/robert-eugene-brashers/ https://www.kait8.com/2018/10/05/killer-linked-murders-missouri-tennessee-south-carolina-paragould/ https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/murder-suspects-robert-brashers-body-exhumed-solve-two-1990s-cold-cases https://archive.today/20230115112055/https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/crime/2018/10/05/greenville-cold-case-robert-brashers-jenny-zitricki/1534079002/ https://archive.ph/20230115112155/https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/02/05/my-father-was-serial-killer-robert-brashers-daughter-speaks-out/#selection-811.21-1279.52 https://archive.ph/20230115112128/https://greenvillejournal.com/news/greenville-police-murderer-in-28-year-old-cold-case-identified/#selection-937.42-937.43 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Eugene_Brashers https://archive.today/20230115112038/https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2020/nov/19/fulton-resident-reminisces-homicide-investigation/ https://archive.ph/20230115112159/https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/01/13/daughter-serial-killer-rapist-tied-greenville-hes-still-my-father/2481586002/#selection-529.0-851.132 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31099977/robert-brashers-mo-from-1985/ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54853022/robert-brashers-florida-crime-1985/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Okt 45min

The Knotek residence appeared unremarkable to outsiders. A modest home, needing a bit of work from years of rain, rested quietly on a tree-lined street. To neighbors, it was just another house, just another family. Behind its doors, however, was a living nightmare—meticulously orchestrated by Michelle Knotek, with the complicity of her husband, David. Outwardly, Michelle seemed maternal, warm, and inviting. In truth, her hospitality was a trap. At first, life with the Knoteks appeared normal, but the facade didn’t last long. Michelle’s cruelty emerged gradually, each act more deliberate and sadistic than the last.  Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘From Mother to Monster: The Knotek Family.’ Listener Discretion by @octoberpodVHS All Music by our EP @theinkypawprint Make sure to check out the promo from our friends at The Final Trace https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-final-trace  Sources: https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Tell-Unbreakable-Sisterhood-ebook/dp/B07Q5TL9SQ https://books.google.com/books?id=5ahTxAEACAAJ https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/raymond-murderer-crazy-shellie-released-from-prison/article_539f6e46-61f3-11ed-99c6-433b5a338fd0.html https://caselaw.findlaw.com/wa-court-of-appeals/1430291.html https://ftp.spaceneedle.com/browse/mL1FD1/600976/Knotek%20Daughters%20Their%20Story%20Unveiled.pdf http://web.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/08-14/228867_couple_charged_with_murder_in_d.html https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20030817/raymond17m/something-unspeakable-now-the-talk-of-two-towns http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Woman-gets-22-years-in-deaths-of-boarders-1152156.php https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/photos/episode-19-michelle-knotek https://www.shortform.com/blog/michelle-knotek-shane-watson/ https://www.magersandquinn.com/product/AMER-MOST-EVIL-MOM-SHELLY-KNOT/26348146 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1657267/ https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/suspect-s-relatives-contacted-police-in-2001-1121929.php#page-1- https://tdn.com/business/local/raymond-couple-charged-in-murders/article_944e373c-9fbd-5bfb-8650-2501a09a53aa.html http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Dog-adds-twist-to-Raymond-case-1121726.php Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Okt 52min

Careful! This one is disturbing. In the early 2000s, women in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, lived in fear. Two different predators were stalking the city, leaving a trail of terror and death. While authorities were hunting for one killer, another, even more depraved murderer was operating completely under the radar. For ten years, Sean Vincent Gillis lived a chilling double life, murdering at least eight women, and the details of his crimes are beyond deranged. Even other serial killers are disturbed by him. He wasn't some dark, shadowy figure who stood out from the crowd. To all who knew him, he was just an ordinary guy, not the monster that was hiding in plain sight. Join Jen and Cam as they talk about "The Butcher of Baton Rouge: Sean Vincent Gillis." Be sure to stay and listen to the promo for Ghost Bites. It's a new podcast brought to you by our friends, Mike and JT from Brew Crime. It's perfect listening for spooky season! Thank you to our team Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of The Inky Pawprint ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theinkypawprint.com⁠⁠ Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Vincent_Gillis https://www.newspapers.com/image/218293983 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037869884/?match=1&clipping_id=179454176 https://www.newspapers.com/image/473164922/?match=1&clipping_id=179454243 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037516392/?match=1&clipping_id=179454409 https://www.promega.es/-/media/files/products-and-services/genetic-identity/ishi-28-oral-abstracts/berry.pdf https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gillis-sean.htm https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037890650/?match=1&clipping_id=179456922 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037890581/?match=1&terms=%22Hardee%20Schmidt%22 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58750961/rachel-anna-bryan https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147871800/donna-johnston https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93816412/annie_hardee-schmidt https://www.newspapers.com/image/447359491/?match=1&terms=%22Johnnie%20Mae%20Williams%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/229163871/?match=1&clipping_id=179459891 https://www.newspapers.com/image/470289746/?match=1&clipping_id=179459996 https://www.newspapers.com/image/220130172/?match=1&clipping_id=179460099 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1038511629/?match=1&clipping_id=179460210 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1038511320/?match=1&clipping_id=179460342 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037326900/?match=1&terms=%22Donna%20Bennett%20Johnston%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/225434960/?match=1&terms=%22Sean%20Vincent%20Gillis%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1036434978/?match=1&clipping_id=179461186 https://youtu.be/KPB_vznn77o?si=Y7R-0F4rbXCG5a08 https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/sean-gillis-now https://medmindist.com/sean-vincent-gillis/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037300915/?match=1&terms=%22Sean%20Gillis%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/539788905/?match=1&terms=%22Sean%20Gillis%22%20 https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Sean_Vincent_Gillis Gillis is also featured in several documentaries, including "Butchers in the Bayou," "The Devil You Know," and "World's Most Evil Killers." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 Sep 47min

The internet often feels like a harmless escape. A place where Facebook shows you picture-perfect families, where influencers promise miracles in a bottle, where friendships are born from nothing more than a shared “like.” But behind the glow of the monitor, reality can warp into something darker, something far more dangerous than anyone imagines. In one quiet town, a single online connection spiraled into lies, obsession, and betrayal, trapping people in a digital web they never saw coming until it was too late. Because online, anyone can be anything. And for one young man, that illusion would prove deadly. Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Love, Lies and the Internet: The Murder of Brian Barrett.’ Listener discretion by Edward @OctoberpodVHS Music by our editor/ep @theinkypawprint Sources: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2180168/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDjNvcrAA0A https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/nyregion/07triangle.html https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/courts-montgomery-gets-20-years-in-internet-love-triangle-killing/article_d124d951-07a1-5d2e-bdae-b15098085262.html https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca6/24-5637/24-5637-2025-06-09.html https://www.officer.com/investigations/article/55293384/how-to-catch-a-criminal-liar-liar https://www.cbsnews.com/news/internet-love-triangle-comes-to-deadly-end/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/web-user-sentenced-for-killing-online-rival-1.636158 https://abcnews.go.com/US/online-love-triangle-deception-end-murder/story?id=14371076 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 Sep 55min