Robert Brandon Keller is asking a Bulloch County Superior Court judge to grant him a new trial, two months after a jury convicted him on all ten felony counts stemming from the October 2024 killing of Bruce William Dupree along Interstate 16.
The Motion for New Trial cites the following reasons for Keller’s request:
- The State failed to adduce evidence sufficient to sustain his conviction.
- The verdict was contrary to the principles of justice and equity and contrary to the weight of the evidence.
- The Court committed errors of law that require a new trial.
The filing does not provide detail of the specific errors Keller contends occurred during the trial, but motions are often amended and supplemented prior to any hearings. Requesting a new trial is the first step in the appeal process.
Keller’s case, even before trial, was complicated as it included questions about his competency to stand trial, disputes over what evidence jurors would be permitted to hear, competing theories about what happened inside Dupree’s vehicle, and defense criticism of the scope of the law enforcement investigation.
Background
Law enforcement responded to a call on Interstate 16 on the evening of October 14, 2024 between mile marker 111 and 116. Troopers arrived on scene to find a man, later identified as Bruce Dupree, on the shoulder of the road, suffering from injuries, but no vehicle could be located. When EMS arrived on scene and began treating Dupree, it was determined that he was suffering from stab wounds to the head and neck and he had defensive wounds on his hands – none of which was consistent with a vehicle crash. Further investigation revealed trails of blood and pools of blood on the other side of the interstate median and shortly thereafter, Dupree passed away.
According to the Indictment, Keller stabbed Dupree before cutting his throat. Keller then took Dupree’s vehicle and cell phone.
Law enforcement was investigating when a 911 call was made from PoJo’s where a man, later identified as Keller, was reported to be covered in blood and had paid with money that was also covered in blood. Keller left the store, but was located and arrested shortly thereafter. Keller could not be interviewed until days later because he was under the influence of a substance.
Ultimately, Keller was indicted on a number of felony counts, including:
- Malice Murder
- Felony Murder
- Aggravated Assault
- Felony Murder
- Aggravated Battery
- Felony Murder
- Armed Robbery
- Felony Murder
- Hijacking a Motor Vehicle
- Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony
Ahead of trial, defense attorneys asked for Keller to be evaluated to determine whether or not he was competent to stand trial and his degree of criminal responsibility at the time of the crime. Notably, Keller had removed his own eyeballs in acts of self-harm while inside the Bulloch County Jail. After evaluations by two medical providers and a hearing before the court, Judge Matthew Hube determined that Keller was competent to stand trial by the standard outlined under state law.
During trial, defense counsel presented alternative theories and attempted to raise doubt about the nature of Keller and Dupree’s interaction, as well as the possibility of a third person in the vehicle. But after two days of evidence, a jury was not convinced.
Keller was convicted on all counts on July 1 and sentenced to serve two life sentences plus twenty-five years. He’s currently serving his sentence at Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison in Jackson, GA.
Read coverage of the case below.
- Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Monday Night Homicide
- Keller Competent to Stand Trial for I-16 Murder, Court Says
- Keller Trial Begins in Bulloch with Removal of Juror, Defense Groundwork for Alternative Narrative
- Witnesses Describe Bloody Interstate Scene as I-16 Murder Trial Opens
- Jury Returns Verdict: Keller Guilty of Murder of Bruce Dupree on I-16
