The silence in the Acworth, Georgia home was broken not by a cry for help, but by the chilling aftermath of unimaginable violence. Justin and Amber Hicks were found murdered, their lives stolen within the walls they thought were safe.
Upstairs, oblivious to the horror below, their two-year-old son slept. It was twelve hours later, when Amber failed to appear for work and unanswered texts raised alarm, that the devastating truth began to unfold.
Justin’s father, driven by a growing dread, went to check on the couple. What he discovered was a scene no parent should ever witness – a home stained with blood, and a small child wandering amidst the tragedy.
The toddler, covered in blood and in a soiled diaper, instinctively sought comfort from the arriving officers, attempting to play with them as if nothing were amiss. He didn’t understand the finality of the silence, the absence of the loving arms that usually held him.
Their neighbor, Matthew Scott Lanz, was swiftly identified as the perpetrator. He had entered the Hicks’ home through the back door on November 17, 2021, and committed the unthinkable act of violence.
The trial revealed a disturbing pattern of instability in Lanz’s life. Days after the Hicks’ murders, he allegedly attacked a police officer in Sandy Springs, stabbing him repeatedly in the neck before being shot himself.
Questions surrounding Lanz’s mental competency repeatedly delayed the proceedings. Testimony revealed a diagnosis of schizophrenia, painting a picture of a deeply troubled individual.
Despite the complexities of his mental state, a motive for the murders remained elusive. Prosecutors presented evidence of Lanz’s claims of seeing ‘demonic lights’ around the Hicks’ home, adding a layer of unsettling mystery to the case.
He also spoke of his deceased brother’s unease with the previous owners of the property, hinting at a long-held, irrational grievance. These claims, however, failed to provide a clear explanation for the brutal act.
Last week, after a bench trial, Lanz was found guilty on all counts. The verdict brought a measure of closure to a grieving family and a shocked community.
The charges included two counts of murder, four counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, child cruelty, and tampering with evidence. The weight of his crimes resulted in a devastating sentence: three life sentences, two without the possibility of parole, and an additional 32 years in confinement, all to be served consecutively.
The image of the little boy, unknowingly surrounded by loss, remains a haunting reminder of the senseless tragedy. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a stark warning about the darkness that can exist hidden behind familiar faces.
