Atlanta, GA – Prosecutors have opened their case against 26-year-old Matthew Scott Lanz, accused of breaking into a family’s new home and killing Justin and Amber Hicks while their 2-year-old son, Jacob, remained alone in the blood-soaked living room for nearly 12 hours. The chilling details were presented as Lanz’s murder trial began this week in Fulton County.
Prosecutors allege that Lanz executed the couple in November 2021, leaving their toddler to wander the home, covered in blood, attempting to wake or “play” with his parents’ bodies. According to an early report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the family had moved into the home just two months earlier, hoping to build a future in what they considered their “dream home.”
Prosecutors Detail the Moment the Family’s “Worst Nightmare” Began
During opening statements, the state described how the couple was relaxing together on the couch on the night of November 19, 2021, unaware that someone was watching from outside. That person, prosecutors said, was Matthew Lanz, their neighbor who lived just around the corner.
At approximately 10 p.m., Lanz allegedly broke through a back window, catching the couple completely off guard.
“The Hicks were unaware. They were defenseless. They were executed,” prosecutors told the jury.
Investigators testified that toys belonging to Jacob were later found on and around his father’s body, supporting the claim that the toddler tried to interact with his parents after the attack.
The Victims and Their Background
Justin Hicks, 31, had served as a firefighter and paramedic with the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services Department for six years. Amber Hicks, 31, was described by friends and neighbors as devoted, warm and excited about their new home.
Their deaths devastated local first responders and the community, prompting widespread support for the surviving child.
Troubled History Between Lanz and Former Homeowners
The home’s previous owner, Phillip Brent, told reporters that Lanz and his older brother had engaged in a long-running “harassment campaign” against him and his fiancée when they lived in the same house the Hicks later purchased. Lanz’s property shared a backyard fence with the Hicks’ new residence.
This background, first reported by the AJC, is expected to play a role in the prosecution’s argument regarding motive and history of hostility.
Police Encounter the Suspect the Day After the Murders
On November 20, 2021 — just a day after the Hicks were killed — Sandy Springs police responded to a possible break-in at another residence on Cameron Glen Drive. A patrol unit was already nearby because a caller had reported a suspicious person minutes earlier.
When officers confronted the suspect inside the home, a violent struggle broke out.
“A struggle took place where the suspect attacked one of our officers, stabbing him multiple times throughout his body,” Sgt. Sal Ortega told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Another officer fired at Lanz to stop the attack.
The injured officer suffered stab wounds to the neck and back, while Lanz was shot twice. Both survived after being rushed to Grady Hospital.
A Violent Family Background Surfaces
The case took an even darker turn when investigators revealed the violent history of Lanz’s older brother, Austin Lanz, who made national headlines in summer 2021. Austin fatally stabbed Pentagon Police Officer George Gonzalez at a bus station before killing himself with Gonzalez’s weapon.
Before that incident, Austin Lanz had been charged with breaking into the same house where Justin and Amber Hicks were eventually murdered — when the property still belonged to Brent.
What Happens Next
Matthew Scott Lanz faces multiple charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and cruelty to children. Georgia law does not differentiate murder by degree; instead, it relies on distinctions like malice versus felony murder.
The trial is expected to examine Lanz’s alleged motive, the harassment history involving the former owners, and forensic evidence from the crime scene.
Share your experiences in the comments below.
