Jury Returns Verdict
At 11:50 a.m., jurors knocked on the door to inform the bailiff that they would like to have a lunch break. At 1:10 p.m. jurors returned and at 1:20 p.m., knocked with a question.
Judge Hube read the note for attorneys, which stated “What is the state’s definition of hijacking?”
Hube said the simplest resolution was to bring the jury back in to read the ‘Hijacking a Motor Vehicle’ jury charge again. Attorneys agreed, jurors heard the charge once again, and returned to deliberate again at 1:30 p.m. (1 hour)
At 1:48 p.m. they announced they had a verdict after 1 hour and 18 minutes of deliberations. Before jurors returned, Judge Hube urged parties on both sides to avoid emotional outbursts as during the reading of the verdict, noting that individuals would be removed from the courtroom by deputies if they could not maintain their composure.
Jurors then returned to the courtroom and the verdict was read as follows:
- Malice Murder – GUILTY
- Felony Murder – GUILTY
- Aggravated Assault – GUILTY
- Felony Murder – GUILTY
- Aggravated Battery – GUILTY
- Felony Murder – GUILTY
- Armed Robbery – GUILTY
- Felony Murder – GUILTY
- Hijacking a Motor Vehicle – GUILTY
- Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony – GUILTY
Keller had no reaction during the reading of the verdict and returned to facing the floor as the jury was polled individually.
State Seeks Sentencing Under Recidivist Punishment
Prior to the start of the trial, prosecutors had filed a Notice announcing the state’s intent to seek sentencing as a recidivist due to Keller having a number of prior felony convictions.
In her Notice, Gibson listed Keller’s prior convictions in her filing, to include:
- 2016 guilty plea in North Carolina for Breaking & Entering (F) and Obstruction of a Police Officer (M)
- 2017 guilty plea in North Carolina for Breaking or Enter Auto (F) and Larceny of a Firearm
- 2017 guilty plea in North Carolina for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- 2017 guilty plea in North Carolina for Breaking & Entering a Motor Vehicle
- 2017 guilty plea in North Carolina for Breaking or Enter Auto (F) and Larceny of a Firearm
- 2017 guilty plea in North Carolina for Breaking & Entering a Motor Vehicle
- 2021 guilty plea in North Carolina for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon & Possession of a Controlled Substance
Sentencing
Judge Hube moved to begin sentencing immediately following the verdict.
The state submitted victim impact statements to the court and subsequently recommended the following sentence:
- Malice Murder – LIFE without possibility of parole
- Felony Murder – Vacate by operation of law
- Aggravated Assault – Merges to another charge
- Felony Murder – Vacate by operation of law
- Aggravated Battery – 20 years to serve concurrent to other charges
- Felony Murder – Vacate by operation of law
- Armed Robbery – LIFE without the possibility of parole based on recidivist sentencing
- Felony Murder – Vacate by operation of law
- Hijacking a Motor Vehicle – 20 years to serve concurrent
- Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony – 5 years to serve consecutive to Count 1
Keller attempted to address the court, standing to speak and saying, “Your honor…”
Judge Hube instructed him that it was not his time to speak and deputies ordered him to sit.
Defense attorneys said the court was largely bound by statutory guidelines because of the conviction of Malice Murder as well as the recidivist sentencing.
Judge Hube then gave Keller the opportunity to address the court. He said he would like to tell the truth but this is not the setting in which he’d feel comfortable doing so.
There’s nothing this court can say or do that will bring Mr. Dupree back. I’m sincerely sorry for the loss to his family, particularly Mr. Hall. I think on October 14, 2024, Mr. Dupree represented the best of us. He stopped to help somebody who he felt was in need. ..Mr. Keller represented the worst of us. He took advantage of someone trying to help and left a trail of wreckage…Mr. Keller, only you know why you did what you did…”
“Sincerest regards to the family, but there’s more to it than that,” Keller interrupted. Judge Hube then sentenced him as follows:
- Malice Murder – LIFE without the possibility of parole
- Felony Murder – Vacated as a matter of law
- Aggravated Assault – Merges with Count 1
- Felony Murder – Vacated as a matter of law
- Aggravated Battery – Merges with Count 1
- Felony Murder – Vacated as a matter of law
- Armed Robbery – LIFE without the possibility of parole, consecutive to Count 1
- Felony Murder – Vacated as a matter of law
- Hijacking a Motor Vehicle – 20 years to serve, consecutive to Count 1
- Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony – 5 years to serve, Consecutive to Count 1
In total, Keller received two sentences of LIFE without the possibility of parole plus another 25 years to serve.
Keller Facing Other Charges in Bulloch County
In October 2025, a Bulloch County grand jury returned a True Bill of Indictment against Keller on four additional charges stemming from an incident in the Bulloch County Jail several months prior.
According to the Indictment, Keller was charged with:
- Unlawful Acts of Violence in a Penal Institution – In February 2025, Keller attempted to rush out of his cell and pushed the cell door open in a violent and tumultuous manner, physically resisting restraint, and pushing and kicking deputy jailers.
- Obstruction of an Officer – For pushing a jail cell door into one jailer, then pushing and kicking that jailer.
- Obstruction of an Officer – For pushing a jail cell door into a second jailer, then kicking that jailer
- Interference with Government Property – for damaging the jail cell door
Other court records indicate that Keller kicked the door “repeatedly over an extended period of time, destroying the locking mechanism and the latch bracket of the door, causing them to break apart and completely fail, therefore rendering the cell door non-functional and in need of immediate repair.” Records also state Keller refused to follow verbal commands and fought jailers as they attempted to restrain him.
The case is also assigned to Judge Hube and is scheduled for a status hearing on the criminal calendar in July.
