State rests in Bulloch County murder trial; closing arguments set for Wednesday

BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - The state rested its case Tuesday in the murder trial of Robert Brandon Keller, who is charged in connection with a 2024 killing in Bulloch County. The jury was released early after the prosecution rested and the defense advised Keller not to testify. Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Defendant’s statements read for jury

Keller has been indicted on 10 charges, including four counts of felony murder. He was deemed competent to stand trial after removing both of his eyeballs and biting off a piece of his tongue while in prison.

A former Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office investigator, Kodi Wallis, took the stand Tuesday to relay statements Keller made after the self-inflicted injuries. The jury was temporarily removed from the courtroom after the defense objected to the testimony, but the judge allowed Wallis to continue.

“What he said, and I quote, ‘I don’t think I’m mental, I don’t have any voices in my head, I just said that to cover my ***, if I don’t pluck my eyes out the alternative is me being pulled out,’” Wallis said.

Wallis also relayed a second statement from Keller: “He said, ‘I made some choices that lead me here, and now I’m being punished by the creator.’”

The defense questioned Wallis about a discrepancy in his written report, noting it stated Keller said he does hear voices. Wallis said the reference was a typo — the only one in the report — and that the direct quote included later in the report was correct.

Victim found on I-16

Keller was arrested hours after emergency crews responded to reports of a man lying bloody and waving for help in the median of Interstate 16. The victim, Bruce Dupree, was found with multiple stab wounds to the chest and head and several slashes to his throat. Dupree was pronounced dead at the scene.

DNA evidence, body camera footage presented

A Georgia Bureau of Investigation expert witness told the jury that two sets of DNA were found on the alleged murder weapon. One set returned a positive match to Dupree. Regarding the second set, GBI forensic biologist Emily Boswell said, “There is a second individual in the mixture, however due to limited data, no conclusive determination can be made.”

The jury also watched body camera footage from Keller’s interrogation. The footage showed Keller initially refusing to answer questions before later complying, telling investigators he could not remember the night in question due to methamphetamine use.

Defense challenges witness testimony

The defense’s strategy Tuesday focused on casting doubt over witness testimony. Defense attorney Que’Andra Campbell questioned a medical examiner about whether a knife used in repeated stabbings would show different characteristics.

“If I continue to stab her, and then pull out, would you agree that that knife would be different, correct?” Campbell said.

The medical examiner, a GBI witness, responded: “It may or may not, a lot of it depends on the actual angle that you’re holding the instrument.”

The jury is set to return Wednesday morning to hear closing arguments from both sides before deliberating and returning a verdict.