ACWORTH, GA – A Georgia man accused of fatally shooting his firefighter neighbor and his wife, then leaving their 2-year-old son alone with the bodies for hours, is standing trial in a case that has horrified the Atlanta suburb of Acworth.
Matthew Scott Lanz faces murder charges in the deaths of Justin and Amber Hicks, who were discovered shot to death on a couch inside their Acworth home on November 17, 2021. Lanz also faces a cruelty to children charge related to the couple’s young son being left at the scene.
Justin Hicks was a beloved Cherokee County firefighter, and the couple’s brutal deaths sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community. Investigators found the couple’s 2-year-old son “soaked in blood, crying and trying to cuddle” his deceased parents when they arrived at the scene.
The toddler and the family dog remained in the home with the bodies for hours before police discovered the grisly scene. The child has since been placed in the care of family members.
Security footage presented during opening statements allegedly captured Lanz at his parents’ adjoining property between 9:31 p.m. and 9:55 p.m. on the night of the murders. Additional footage shows him leaving the scene at 10:10 p.m., prosecutors said.
Lanz was arrested days later after allegedly breaking into a Sandy Springs home. During that arrest, he reportedly stabbed an officer multiple times in the neck and back before another officer shot him. The officer survived the attack.
Mental health evaluations have played a significant role in the case. A forensic psychologist determined that Lanz suffers from schizophrenia, leading to multiple delays in the trial over competency concerns. However, a judge ultimately ruled him competent to stand trial.
In an unusual move, Lanz requested a bench trial, meaning a judge rather than a jury will render the verdict. Legal experts say this decision suggests the defense may be banking on a judge’s ability to consider complex mental health evidence more objectively than a lay jury.
The case has drawn intense public attention, with many questioning how someone with documented mental illness and a history of violence could remain free long enough to commit such a heinous crime. The subsequent attack on police during his arrest further underscored concerns about his dangerous behavior.
Prosecutors are seeking a conviction on all charges, which could result in life in prison without parole. The defense has not indicated whether they will pursue an insanity defense, though Lanz’s mental health diagnosis is expected to feature prominently in arguments.
The trial continues in Cobb County Superior Court as the judge weighs evidence in the case that left a toddler orphaned and a community devastated.
