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Name:
Keller, Robert Brandon
Date of Booking:
07/21/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
MURDER
MALICE MURDER
ARMED ROBBERY
HIJACKING A MOTOR VEHICLE
AGGRAVATED BATTERY
POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CERTAIN FELONIES
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS- FELONY
OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS- FELONY
ASSAILING, OPPOSING, OR RESISTING OFFICER OF THE LAW IN A PENAL INSTITUTION
INTERFERENCE WITH GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
SIMPLE BATTERY AGAINST POLICE OFFICER/LE DOG/CORRECTIONS OR DETENTION OFFICER
SIMPLE BATTERY AGAINST POLICE OFFICER/LE DOG/CORRECTIONS OR DETENTION OFFICER
Article:
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
10/24/24
ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED FOR ROBERT BRANDON KELLER
What this means: Multiple arrest warrants were issued for Robert Brandon Keller in Bulloch County for serious felony charges including murder, malice murder, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of certain crimes. The warrants were signed by a magistrate and filed with the Bulloch County Superior Court clerk. According to the warrants, Keller is accused of stabbing Bruce William Dupree numerous times with a sharp tool/instrument, which resulted in Dupree’s death. The incident allegedly occurred on 10/14/24 between 8:04 PM and 8:31 PM in Bulloch County. Keller is also accused of stealing an Apple iPhone, approximately $1,000 in cash, and a 2021 Kia K5 sedan belonging to Dupree.
11/21/24
MOTION FOR BOND AND PRELIMINARY HEARING FILED
What this means: Robert Brandon Keller’s defense attorney, Daveniya Fisher from the Office of the Public Defender for the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, filed a motion requesting that Keller be granted bond and asking for a preliminary hearing in case SU24WR762P. The motion argues that Keller poses no significant risk of committing another felony, fleeing the jurisdiction, or intimidating witnesses. The filing notes that Keller is homeless and has been held in the Bulloch County jail since his arrest on 10/24/24. Under Georgia law, these serious charges are only eligible for bond from a Superior Court judge, not a magistrate. The motion was served on the District Attorney’s office as required by law.
12/5/24
PRELIMINARY HEARING AND BOND HEARING SCHEDULED
What this means: Robert Brandon Keller’s preliminary hearing and bond hearing have been scheduled for 9:00 AM on December 5, 2024, in Bulloch County Superior Court for case SU24WR762P. During the preliminary hearing, the judge will determine if there is probable cause to believe Keller committed the alleged crimes. The bond hearing will address whether Keller should be released from jail while awaiting trial and, if so, under what conditions. Keller remains in custody at the Bulloch County jail on charges including murder, malice murder, armed robbery, and hijacking a motor vehicle.
12/16/24
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 10 COUNTS FILED AGAINST ROBERT BRANDON KELLER
What this means: A Bulloch County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment against Robert Brandon Keller on December 16, 2024, in Bulloch Superior Court (case SU24-CR-641P). Robert Brandon Keller is accused of malice murder, felony murder (four counts), aggravated assault, aggravated battery, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. A true bill means the grand jury found enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. This is not a conviction — Robert Brandon Keller is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
1/15/25
MOTION FOR DISCOVERY FILED
What this means: Robert Keller’s defense filed a motion requesting discovery, which is the formal process of exchanging evidence and information between the prosecution and defense before trial.
1/17/25
DISCOVERY DEMAND FILED
What this means: The prosecution filed its demand for discovery, formally requesting that the defense provide relevant evidence and information in the case.
1/30/25
MENTAL EVALUATION ORDERED — COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL AND CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
What this means: The court ordered Robert Keller to undergo a mental evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial (able to understand the charges and assist in his defense) and to assess his criminal responsibility at the time of the alleged acts.
3/6/25
DBHDD NOTIFIES COURT OF DELAYED RECEIPT OF MENTAL EVALUATION ORDER
What this means: The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), Office of Forensic Services, filed a notice with Bulloch Superior Court on March 6, 2025, informing Judge Hube that the court’s mental evaluation order for Robert Brandon Keller was received more than ten days after it was signed. The order was signed by the court on 2/12/25 but was not received by DBHDD until 3/5/25. The notice was filed with the Clerk of Bulloch Superior Court, Heather Banks McNeal, at 11:34 AM. This is a routine administrative notice — it does not change the substance of the evaluation order, but it flags the processing delay so the court is aware that DBHDD’s timeline for completing the evaluation may be affected.
3/28/25
DEFENSE MOTION FOR BOND HEARING AND RULE NISI MOTION FILED
What this means: Robert Keller’s defense filed a motion requesting a bond hearing and a rule nisi motion (a procedural request that sets a deadline for the other side to respond). The bond hearing was scheduled for 4/15/25 at 9:00 AM.
4/15/25
ORDER DENYING BOND
What this means: The court denied Robert Keller’s request for bond, meaning he will remain in custody while the case proceeds.
11/12/25
COURT ORDERS ROBERT BRANDON KELLER TRANSPORTED TO GEORGIA REGIONAL HOSPITAL
What this means: Judge Matthew K. Hube of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit signed a transportation order on November 12, 2025, in Bulloch Superior Court (case SU24-CR641), directing the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Department to transport Robert Brandon Keller to Georgia Regional Hospital. The order was filed with the Bulloch County Clerk at 11:52 AM. The court reviewed the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) evaluation report and determined that Keller needs to be transported to and remain in the custody of Georgia Regional Hospital until a hearing is held. The court noted that Keller is currently committing acts of self-harm. Keller is to be stabilized and considered for a bed in an Adult Mental Health space in a secure facility. He is to remain under DBHDD’s care until he is stabilized, considered for an Adult Mental Health placement, and until the time of trial or until the case is resolved.
12/1/25
DEFENSE FILES RULE NISI MOTION FOR COMPETENCY HEARING
What this means: Robert Brandon Keller’s defense filed a rule nisi motion requesting a competency hearing, which was scheduled for 1/27/26 at 9:00 AM. A rule nisi is a procedural request that sets a deadline or hearing date for the other side to respond or appear.
2/10/26
ORDER ISSUED REGARDING ROBERT BRANDON KELLER’S COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL
What this means: The court issued an order addressing Robert Brandon Keller’s competency to stand trial. Competency refers to whether a defendant is mentally able to understand the charges against him and meaningfully participate in his own defense.
2/21/26
ORDER FOR MENTAL EVALUATION — DEGREE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
What this means: The court issued an order for Robert Keller to undergo a mental evaluation to assess the degree of his criminal responsibility, which relates to whether he was mentally capable of forming the intent necessary to commit the crimes he is accused of.
3/6/26
STATE FILES NOTICE OF INTENT TO OFFER RECORDS INTO EVIDENCE AND SEEK RECIDIVIST PUNISHMENT
What this means: The prosecution filed two notices on March 6, 2026. The first notifies the defense that the state intends to introduce certain records as evidence at trial. The second notifies the defense that the state intends to seek recidivist punishment against Robert Brandon Keller, meaning the prosecution plans to argue that Keller’s prior criminal history warrants a harsher sentence if he is convicted.
3/30/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION TO SUPPRESS STATEMENT AND REQUESTS JACKSON-DENNO HEARING
What this means: Robert Brandon Keller’s defense filed a motion asking the court to suppress — meaning exclude from trial — a statement made by Keller. The defense also requested a Jackson-Denno hearing, which is a proceeding where a judge determines whether a defendant’s statement was made voluntarily and without coercion before it can be used as evidence.
6/3/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION IN LIMINE
What this means: Robert Brandon Keller’s defense filed a motion in limine, which is a request asking the court to exclude certain evidence or information from being presented to the jury at trial.
6/18/26
STATE FILES NOTICE OF INTENT TO INTRODUCE RECORDS OF REGULARLY CONDUCTED ACTIVITY
What this means: The prosecution filed a notice of intent to introduce records of regularly conducted activity — commonly known as business records — as evidence at trial. This type of notice is required to give the defense advance warning that such records will be used.
6/22/26
COURT ISSUES MULTIPLE RULINGS AND DEFENSE FILES MOTION TO EXCLUDE WITNESSES
What this means: Four separate legal actions occurred on June 22, 2026. The state filed a second notice of intent to introduce records of regularly conducted activity. Judge Hube issued an order denying Robert Brandon Keller’s motion to suppress his statement, meaning the statement Keller made to law enforcement will be allowed as evidence at trial. The court also issued a ruling on Keller’s motion in limine, determining what evidence may or may not be presented to the jury. Additionally, the defense filed a motion to exclude witnesses, asking the court to bar certain witnesses from testifying or from being present in the courtroom during trial testimony.
6/23/26
STATE FILES DISCOVERY DISCLOSURE
What this means: The prosecution filed a discovery disclosure on June 23, 2026, providing Robert Brandon Keller’s defense with evidence and information relevant to the case.
6/29/26
DEFENSE FILES REQUEST TO CHARGE
What this means: Robert Brandon Keller’s defense filed a request to charge on June 29, 2026, asking the court to instruct the jury on specific legal principles and definitions that apply to the case.
6/29/26
STATE FILES REQUEST TO CHARGE
What this means: The prosecution filed its own request to charge on June 29, 2026, asking the court to instruct the jury on legal principles and definitions that support the state’s case.
7/13/26
JURY RETURNS GUILTY VERDICTS — ROBERT BRANDON KELLER CONVICTED ON MULTIPLE COUNTS
What this means: A jury found Robert Brandon Keller guilty on multiple counts in Bulloch Superior Court. The verdicts and sentences are as follows:
Count 1 — Malice Murder: Guilty. Robert Brandon Keller was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Count 2 — Felony Murder: Guilty verdict vacated by operation of law. When a defendant is convicted of both malice murder and felony murder arising from the same act, Georgia law automatically vacates the felony murder conviction.
Count 3 — Aggravated Assault: Guilty verdict merged into Count 1 (Malice Murder). The aggravated assault conviction is absorbed into the malice murder conviction and does not result in a separate sentence.
Count 4 — Felony Murder: Guilty verdict vacated by operation of law.
Count 5 — Aggravated Battery: Guilty verdict merged into Count 1 (Malice Murder). The aggravated battery conviction is absorbed into the malice murder conviction.
Count 6 — Felony Murder: Guilty verdict vacated by operation of law.
Count 7 — Armed Robbery: Guilty. Robert Brandon Keller was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Count 8 — Felony Murder: Guilty verdict vacated by operation of law.
Count 9 — Hijacking a Motor Vehicle: Guilty. Robert Brandon Keller was sentenced to 20 years in confinement, to run consecutively (one after the other) with the sentence on Count 7 (Armed Robbery).
Count 10 — Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony: Guilty. Robert Brandon Keller was sentenced to 5 years in confinement, to run consecutively with the sentence on Count 9 (Hijacking a Motor Vehicle).
Robert Brandon Keller’s total sentence is life without parole on the malice murder and armed robbery convictions, plus an additional 25 years (20 years for hijacking plus 5 years for knife possession) to be served consecutively after the life sentences.