Officials still waiting for autopsy results in fatal Mt. Morris fire

MT. MORRIS – Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Tuesday that his office still is waiting on toxicology results and other information in connection with the fire Nov. 25 in which 27-year-old Melissa Lamesch and her unborn son were found dead.

“I don’t have anything additional to report right now,” VanVickle said. “We’re still waiting on the tox screen. We still haven’t heard. This is rather complex because it’s in the village. Mt. Morris Police have asked for help with the investigation. It’s a multi-agency thing with the state fire marshal and our coroner.”

Ogle County Coroner Lou Finch said results typically come back within two to three weeks and he’s hoping for word by the end of the week. Results can take longer when more extensive information is asked for, which the county did in the case of this fire, Finch said.

Lamesch, an EMT who was due to give birth any day, was found on the kitchen floor in her single-story home at 206 S. Hannah Ave. Her cat also was found dead.

Mt. Morris Fire Chief Rob Hough IV said the Ogle County 911 center received multiple calls at 4:29 p.m. for smoke coming from the residence.

When Mt. Morris firefighters arrived on scene, smoke detectors were going off and heavy was smoke venting from the roof and eaves. When the found Lamesch, they removed her from the home and tried life-saving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.