GACOBB COUNTY, Ga. (Court TV) — A Georgia man convicted of breaking into a home and murdering a firefighter and his wife was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday.

Matthew Lanz reacts to the judge’s verdict in his double murder trial on Nov. 20, 2025. (Court TV)

Matthew Lanz , 26, received two consecutive life sentences for the November 2021 murders of Justin and Amber Hicks, both 31, who were shot multiple times in their Acworth home while their 2-year-old son slept in his crib. Judge Sonja Brown handed down the sentence after Lanz waived his right to appear at the hearing.

The sentencing came one day after Brown convicted Lanz of multiple charges , including two counts of malice murder, following a bench trial. Lanz was also found guilty of cruelty

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