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 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.
Lanz’s trial revealed a disturbing lack of motive, though he had previously spoken of seeing ‘demonic lights’ around the Hicks’ property. He also alluded to his deceased brother’s unease with the previous owners of the home, hinting at a deeply troubled state of mind.
The court heard testimony regarding Lanz’s mental health, with evidence presented of a schizophrenia diagnosis. Despite these challenges, a bench trial concluded with a guilty verdict on all counts last week.
The charges were extensive: 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.
Just days after the Hicks’ murders, Lanz committed another violent act, breaking into a Sandy Springs residence and stabbing an officer in the neck before being shot himself. This further underscored the dangerousness and instability that fueled his actions.
The Hicks family, and the community, are left to grapple with the senseless loss of two vibrant lives, and the enduring trauma inflicted upon their innocent son. The image of that little boy, searching for comfort in a world suddenly turned dark, remains a haunting reminder of the tragedy.
