The trial has commenced for a 26-year-old man in Georgia who stands accused of brutally murdering a married couple in their new home, leaving their 2-year-old son alone and covered in blood for hours. Matthew Scott Lanz is facing multiple felony charges in connection to the tragic 2021 slayings of Justin and Amber Hicks.
Georgia law does not categorize murder by degrees; rather, it distinguishes between malice murder, which involves killing with malicious intent, and felony murder, causing someone’s death during the commission of a felony. Prosecutors revealed that the Hicks couple were fatally shot just over two months after moving into their dream home in Atlanta.
According to the prosecutors, on the night of the incident, the unsuspecting parents were relaxing on the couch watching TV when Lanz allegedly broke in through the back window and executed them. Tragically, their young son, Jacob, was left to fend for himself next to his deceased parents, trying to interact with them as they lay lifeless.
It was uncovered that Lanz resided near the Hicks family and had a history of harassing the previous homeowners. Following the gruesome murders, police responded to a break-in at the residence where they encountered Lanz inside. A violent confrontation ensued, resulting in Lanz stabbing an officer multiple times and being shot in return.
Notably, Lanz’s older brother gained notoriety after a similar, unprovoked attack on a Pentagon police officer earlier that year. Before the fatal stabbing, Austin Lanz had been arrested for breaking into the same house where the Hicks couple met their tragic fate.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.