A man charged with killing a man on Interstate 16 in Bulloch County is competent to stand trial, a court said last week.
Robert Brandon Keller is facing a slew of felony charges in connection with the October 2024 death of Bruce Dupree of Metter. Prosecutors charged Keller with Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Armed Robbery, Hijacking a Motor Vehicle, and Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony.
Case Background
An investigator with the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office testified during a bond hearing that a crash was reported on the evening of October 14, 2024 between mile marker 111 and 116 on Interstate 16. Troopers arrived on scene to find a man 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 is 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.
As law enforcement continued to investigate, a 911 call was made from PoJo’s where someone reported a man, later identified as Keller, covered in blood who paid with money that was also covered in blood. Keller left the store but was located and arrested shortly thereafter.
The investigator testified that they were unable to interview Keller the day of the arrest or the following day due to him still being under the influence.
Keller has been in the Bulloch County Jail since his arrest.
Request for Evaluation of Mental Competency to Stand Trial
In January 2025, attorneys with the Public Defender’s office requested that Keller be evaluated to determine his mental state at the time of the incident as well as his competency to stand trial.
During his time in jail awaiting trial, Keller has been charged with additional offenses due to his alleged interactions with jailers and, according to court documents, he removed his eyeballs and bit off a portion of his tongue.
Other Charges in Bulloch County Jail
In August 2025, a Bulloch County Grand Jury indicted Keller for Unlawful Acts of Violence in a Penal Institution, two counts of Obstruction of an Officer, and Interference with Government Property. Court records allege that in February 2025, Keller pushed, kicked, and resisted jailers after violently pushing open the jail cell door. That case is still pending.
Competency Evaluations
Keller was ultimately evaluated by two doctors employed by the State of Georgia. During his time in jail awaiting trial, Keller removed his eyeballs and bit off a portion of his tongue.
Dr. Jeremy Gay evaluated Keller in October 2025 and also reviewed documents from the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, public safety incident reports, mental health records, Georgia Regional Savannah Hospital records, and footage of Keller’s post arrest interview. His evaluation centered around the criminal responsibility of Keller at the time of the act.
In a hearing, Dr. Gay testified that he was aware of Keller’s self harm (removing his eyeballs), but that factor was not relevant to the evaluation because it happened after the alleged criminal activity for which the Defendant is charged.
Gay testified that while Keller is currently on a host of antipsychotic and anti-anxiety medications, his issues arise out of substance abuse and therefore don’t meet what Gay said is the standard for mental health disorders or mental health issues, particularly the legal standard for both. He said voluntary intoxication does not meet the standard for mental illness at the time of a crime. Gay also testified that Keller only exhibits psychosis during and after drug use (what’s known as drug-induced psychosis).
Gay ultimately determined that Keller was not suffering from either a delusional compulsion at the time of the crime or an inability to distinguish right and wrong at the time of the crime. He also opined that should Keller be found guilty, he would not meet the legal criteria for an insanity defense.
Dr. Daniel Fass evaluated Keller in April 2025 and told the court he observed Keller to be cooperative, polite, apathetic, depressed, and hopeless. He did not find Keller to be suffering from any medical illness like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, a determination that was still true in January 2026.
Fass also told the court that Keller was intellectually competent and his ability to answer questions about the courtroom process was better than others he evaluated. Fass said Keller told him he had little to no memory of the alleged act, partly due to drug use. Fass said there are many cases where someone has no memory due to intoxication but they’re still competent to stand trial.
“You don’t necessarily have to remember engaging in the act to be able to reason through, to be able to mount a defense, to be able to cite evidence that can be against you, or to testify of what happened potentially before and after you were arrested,” Fass said.
Additionally, Fass said Keller had the “prerequisite emotional control to behave appropriately in court” and based on his evaluation, he believed Keller was competent to stand trial.
Order from the Court
In an Order filed by Superior Court Judge Matthew Hube, Hube wrote that during the hearing on his competency, he observed Keller “sit quietly, appear to be listening to the proceedings, and interact with his attorneys appropriately.”
In addition to the testimony and evaluations by the two doctors, Hube also relied on testimony from two jailers who said during the hearing that Keller told them “he wanted to go to a medical prison, he was not mental, and that he said he heard voices to cover his ass.” Keller told a jailer that he didn’t want to go to a Georgia prison because it was more dangerous [than the prison in North Carolina].
Ultimately, it was determined that Keller was not mentally ill at the time of the alleged offenses and is currently competent to stand trial.
