The Acworth Double Homicide: Matthew Lanz Convicted in Deaths of Cherokee County Firefighter and Wife

Matthew Scott Lanz was convicted in November 2025 of killing Cherokee County firefighter Justin Hicks and his wife Amber Hicks in their Acworth, Georgia home in November 2021. Cobb County prosecutors pursued the case for four years following his arrest. The killings left their toddler son orphaned. Lanz received two consecutive life sentences without parole.

The case drew national attention for its brutality and the unusual circumstances surrounding the investigation. Lanz, then a 21-year-old college student, reportedly had no prior relationship with the victims yet allegedly surveilled their home before the attack. His brother Austin Lanz had previously engaged in disturbing behavior involving the same property, including harassment of a previous owner. The case remained in legal proceedings for years due to competency challenges before reaching its conclusion in late 2025.

Investigators pieced together the timeline through physical evidence, ballistics, and video surveillance. Detectives traced the weapon used in the killings after Lanz’s parents removed a firearm from his possession following the murders. The subsequent arrest in Sandy Springs added additional charges related to an attack on a law enforcement officer.

What Happened to Justin and Amber Hicks?

Justin and Amber Hicks, both 31 years old, were fatally shot in their Acworth home on November 17, 2021. The couple had recently moved into the residence, which sat in a neighborhood where the Lanz family also lived. According to testimony from Lead Detective Zachary Stannard, the murders occurred between 9:55 p.m. and 10:11 p.m. while the couple watched television in their living room.

Their 2-year-old son, Jacob, was asleep in his crib during the attack and survived unharmed. Family members discovered the scene the following morning. Ashley Hicks placed the 911 call after finding her relatives’ bodies around 9:34 a.m. on November 18, 2021. Timothy Hicks, another relative, arrived at the scene and found the toddler holding his father’s reading glasses. The child was covered in blood after reportedly hugging his parents’ bodies.

Autopsies confirmed both victims died from gunshot wounds. Justin Hicks sustained injuries to his thigh, forearm, head, and abdomen. Amber Hicks suffered at least five gunshot wounds. Ballistics evidence later linked the crime to a firearm that investigators traced through Lanz’s family.

Key Details at a Glance

Established Facts About the Case

• Lanz broke into the Hicks home during the specified time window on November 17, 2021
• Investigators recovered at least five gunshot wounds across both victims
• The toddler son was present but physically unharmed
• Lanz placed his phone in airplane mode and fled after the killings
• Ballistics matched a firearm later recovered through Lanz’s family
• Video evidence showed Lanz surveilling the Hicks residence prior to the attack
• No prior relationship or domestic violence history existed between Lanz and the victims

Who is Matthew Scott Lanz?

Matthew Scott Lanz was a 21-year-old college student living in the vicinity of the Hicks home at the time of the murders. Court records and police statements indicate he resided in the same neighborhood as the victims, though the families did not know each other. Investigators found that Lanz had been observing the Hicks residence before the attack.

Lanz’s background includes disturbing behavior documented by authorities. His brother Austin Lanz had engaged in prior incidents involving the same property before the Hicks family purchased it. Austin Lanz reportedly left pornographic material in the mailbox of the home’s previous owner, Phillip Brent, and later broke into the residence with a sledgehammer in April 2021. In August 2021, Austin Lanz fatally stabbed a Pentagon police officer, an incident that authorities later connected to patterns of erratic behavior within the family.

Following the November 2021 murders, Lanz’s parents removed a firearm from his possession. Investigators later matched this weapon to ballistics evidence from the crime scene through forensic analysis conducted by Lead Detective Zachary Stannard.

Family Context and Prior Incidents

The Lanz family’s connection to the property predated the Hicks family’s arrival. Records show that Austin Lanz had become fixated on the house, which sat in their parents’ neighborhood. The previous owner’s reports of harassment and break-ins preceded the Hicks family’s move by several months.

Law enforcement officials noted the pattern of behavior but confirmed that no direct motive linking Austin’s actions to Matthew’s subsequent crimes was established. The family connections and proximity raised questions during the investigation, yet prosecutors focused on the evidence specific to the November 2021 killings.

What Are the Charges Against Matthew Lanz?

Cobb County prosecutors filed extensive charges against Matthew Lanz following his arrest. The indictment included two counts of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, home invasion, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, second-degree cruelty to children, and tampering with evidence. The cruelty to children charge related to Lanz leaving the toddler alone with his parents’ bodies after the shooting.

Lanz faced these charges in Cobb Superior Court before Judge Sonja Brown. His case proceeded through the court system for four years due to competency evaluations. Defense attorneys challenged Lanz’s mental fitness to stand trial, and the judge ultimately ruled him competent to proceed in October 2025.

On November 20, 2025, a jury convicted Lanz on all counts. Judge Brown presided over the trial, and the verdict came after deliberations. Lanz waived his right to appear at the sentencing hearing the following day. He received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the malice murder convictions. Remaining sentences ran concurrently.

Legal Outcome Summary

Arrest Circumstances

Lanz was taken into custody on November 19, 2021, in Sandy Springs, which falls within Fulton County. The arrest occurred after he broke into another residence and stabbed a police officer in the back and neck. Responding officers shot Lanz twice during the confrontation. This incident added additional charges to his legal profile, and a separate trial remained pending regarding the officer stabbing as of late 2025.

Timeline of Events

The case spanned from initial incidents involving the property through the 2025 conviction. Below is a chronological summary of key developments.

1. April 2021 – Austin Lanz broke into the Hicks home with a sledgehammer while the property was under previous ownership
2. August 2021 – Austin Lanz fatally stabbed a Pentagon police officer
3. Prior to November 2021 – Matthew Lanz began surveilling the Hicks residence; left pornographic material in mailbox
4. November 17, 2021 (9:55–10:11 p.m.) – Justin and Amber Hicks killed in their home; Lanz fled after putting phone in airplane mode
5. November 18, 2021 (9:34 a.m.) – Family members discovered bodies; toddler found alive but bloodied
6. November 19, 2021 – Lanz arrested in Sandy Springs after attacking and stabbing a police officer
7. 2021–2025 – Competency evaluations delayed trial proceedings
8. October 2025 – Judge ruled Lanz competent to stand trial
9. November 20, 2025 – Jury convicted Lanz on all counts
10. November 21, 2025 – Lanz sentenced to two consecutive life terms without parole

What Remains Established Versus Unclear

Investigators and prosecutors established several facts through evidence and testimony, while certain aspects of the case remain without public explanation.

Broader Context of the Case

The Hicks case stands out in Cobb County crime history due to several factors. The victims were well-known community members—Justin Hicks served as a Cherokee County firefighter, a position that amplified public interest in the case. The randomness of the attack, combined with the involvement of Lanz’s brother Austin in separate violent incidents, contributed to community concern about patterns of behavior. Matthew Lanz was convicted in November 2025 of killing Cherokee County firefighter Justin Hicks and his wife Amber Hicks, as detailed in the Marcus Ginny and Georgia.

The case highlighted issues related to stranger-initiated violence, which differs statistically from domestic homicide patterns. While domestic violence accounts for a significant portion of homicides nationally, the Hicks case involved no prior relationship between perpetrator and victims. Investigators noted that the surveillance aspect suggested premeditation, though prosecutors could not articulate a specific motive during trial proceedings.

The survival of the Hicks’ toddler son, Jacob, provided a narrow element of relief amid tragedy. Child welfare advocates pointed to the case as an example of how young children can survive violent home invasions when isolated from direct harm. The child was reportedly unharmed physically but, according to family accounts, had contact with his parents’ bodies after the discovery.

Sources and Official Statements

Multiple news organizations covered the Hicks murder case throughout its four-year legal journey. Court TV reported extensively on trial proceedings, including testimony from Lead Detective Zachary Stannard regarding crime scene reconstruction, timeline analysis, and ballistics tracing.

Court TV reported that prosecutors detailed Lanz’s surveillance of the Hicks home through video evidence, establishing a pattern of observation prior to the attack. Family members confirmed through statements that no acquaintance existed between Lanz and the victims.

— Court TV, Trial Coverage Reports

Fox 5 Atlanta coverage included statements from investigators regarding the discovery of bodies and the subsequent investigation that led to Lanz’s identification and arrest.

— Fox 5 Atlanta, News Reports

The Cobb County Police Department and Cobb County District Attorney’s office released official statements throughout the investigation and prosecution. Autopsy reports filed with the Cobb County medical examiner confirmed causes of death consistent with the charges filed.

Summary and Current Status

Matthew Scott Lanz was convicted in November 2025 of killing Cherokee County firefighter Justin Hicks and his wife Amber Hicks in their Acworth home on November 17, 2021. The jury found him guilty on all counts, and Judge Sonja Brown sentenced him to two consecutive life terms without parole. A separate trial regarding charges from the Sandy Springs officer stabbing remains pending.

Investigators established through ballistics, video evidence, and witness testimony that Lanz surveilled the Hicks residence before carrying out the attack. Despite extensive investigation, prosecutors acknowledged no clear motive for why Lanz targeted the family. The couple’s 2-year-old son survived and was found at the scene by family members. Legal proceedings spanned four years due to competency evaluations before the case reached its conclusion.

For additional context on how cases involving domestic situations develop legally, see the guide to understanding relationship dynamics in crisis situations.

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