A 40-year-old Oregon man has been arrested and charged with stalking and harassing UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers, after months of disturbing behavior. Robert Cole Parmalee was taken into custody by UConn police and is currently being held on $100,000 bond. His charges include breach of peace, electronic stalking, and harassment.
Parmalee’s troubling fixation with Bueckers came to light in June when UConn’s communications department received a series of erratic emails. In the messages, Parmalee claimed he was a member of the royal family and expressed his desire to marry a UConn women’s basketball player. His bizarre and unsettling behavior escalated when he began making dozens of social media posts, many of which referenced Bueckers directly, even going so far as to post fake wedding invitations and a picture of an engagement ring.
In one particularly alarming TikTok video, Parmalee threatened to take his own life along with others if he could not “live with a woman of my choosing,” seemingly targeting Bueckers. UConn authorities became increasingly concerned as Parmalee’s posts appeared threatening not only to Bueckers but also to her friends and family.
The situation reached a tipping point on August 27, when Connecticut State Police arrested Parmalee as he was walking on a highway near Bradley International Airport. He told officers he was on his way to meet Bueckers. At that time, police discovered an outstanding warrant for Parmalee in Oregon, leading to his initial arrest.
Despite this, Parmalee remained a threat to Bueckers, prompting UConn police to intervene before Oregon could dismiss the charges. A protective order has since been issued, forbidding Parmalee from contacting or approaching Bueckers, her family, or teammates. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 22.
Bueckers expressed her concern for her safety in an affidavit, noting that Parmalee’s behavior has been disturbing since February. Her fears extend to her family and teammates, raising further concerns about their well-being as the case unfolds.
