COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A judge is waiting to sentence the man who murdered a husband and wife, leaving their 2-year-old alone in the house for hours with their bodies.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Sonya Brown found Matthew Lanz guilty on all counts Thursday afternoon after deliberating for less than two hours.
Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell was in the courtroom as the verdict was read.
It was an emotional trial for the family of the victims, Cherokee County Firefighter Justin Hicks and his wife Amber Hicks, and they watched and listened to details of the killing.
They clapped in court as the judgment was read.
Lanz sat in court with no reaction as he heard the verdict. He was convicted on counts of malice murder, felony murder, home invasion, tampering with evidence and other charges for the 2021 killings.
Judge Brown believed prosecutors presented enough evidence to prove Lanz broke into the home and killed the couple.
Prosecutor Stephanie Green said Lanz stalked and hunted them.
The family cried during closing arguments as prosecutors described the Hicks’ 2-year-old, who was alone for 12 hours in the home and found covered in blood.
“He brought his parents toys, trying to get their attention,” the prosecutor said.
Lanz’s attorney told the judge that police didn’t find Lanz’s DNA at the crime scene.
“No trace evidence was found,’’ the attorney said. “They didn’t find anything that would tie Matthew to being inside that house.”
Prosecutors said the evidence was overwhelming, including security camera video that they say placed Lanz at the crime scene.
Prosecutors believe his motive could have been tied to revenge. They said Lanz told police the former owners of the victims’ home harassed his brother.
They also said Lanz told them he saw demonic lights coming from the home.
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Prosecutors spent three days presenting evidence against Lanz, including video footage that allegedly places him near the victims’ home on the night of the murders.
Four years ago, prosecutors say Lanz went on a crime spree, starting with the break-in at his parents’ neighbors’ house, where he allegedly shot and killed the couple.
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Two days after the murders, Lanz is accused of breaking into a Sandy Springs home and stabbing a responding police officer.
During police interviews, Lanz mentioned being on his parents’ property behind the victims’ house on the night of the murders, claiming he saw lights on and was smoking a cigarette.
Lanz told police he drove back to Athens before the murders occurred and said his parents visited him the next day to ask if he was involved.
During a police interview, Lanz expressed feeling pain for knowing there was a child involved, but did not specify details about the child’s circumstances.
Lanz claimed he is being framed by the government and prayed for the victim’s child during police interviews.
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