Murder suspect who gouged out his own eyes, bit off part of tongue deemed competent to stand trial

STATESBORO, Ga. (TCN) -- A murder suspect who gouged his own eyes out and bit off part of his tongue while in custody has been deemed competent to stand trial by two psychologists, according to court documents. 

On Oct. 14, 2024, 43-year-old Bruce Dupree was found on the side of the road stabbed multiple times, WKRC reports. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but Dupree died soon after.

Robert Brandon Keller, 32, was arrested when a liquor store employee notified authorities. Keller reportedly had blood on his hands and paid for his purchases with cash covered in blood, according to WKRC.

Keller was charged with charged with two counts of murder, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm or knife in the commission of a felony. Court documents obtained by WKRC state that while he was in custody, Keller gouged out both his eyes and bit off part of his tongue. Two psychologists deemed him competent to stand trial regardless. 

WKRC reports one of the psychologists, Dr. Jeremy Gay, said 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.”

According to Law & Crime, when he analyzed Keller in April 2025, Dr. Daniel Fass said Keller’s intellectual functioning and ability to answer questions in court “were much better than a lot of the people” he evaluates.

A jailer who spoke at the hearing said Keller “was not mental and that he said he heard voices to cover his ass,” WKRC reports. 

Fass and Gay ruled Keller competent to stand trial in an order dated Feb. 10, Law & Crime reports. His trial has not yet been scheduled.

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