Authorities in Connecticut have arrested Robert Cole Parmalee, a 40-year-old man from Oregon, on charges of stalking and harassing University of Connecticut basketball star Paige Bueckers. Parmalee was taken into custody on Friday by UConn police while already at the Hartford Correctional Center. He is currently being held on a $100,000 bond following his court appearance on Monday. His charges include breach of peace, electronic stalking, and harassment.
UConn became aware of Parmalee’s alarming behavior in June when he began sending the university’s communications department a series of “rambling” emails. In these messages, Parmalee claimed to be a member of the royal family and expressed a desire to marry a member of UConn’s women’s basketball team. His fixation on Bueckers intensified as he started making threatening posts on social media directed not just at the basketball star but also at her friends and family.
The situation escalated when Parmalee took to TikTok, making a disturbing post where he threatened to take his own life along with others if he could not “live with a woman of [his] choosing,” seemingly referring to Bueckers. He further posted fake wedding invitations and photos of a diamond engagement ring, making his obsession with the basketball star increasingly concerning.
Parmalee’s behavior raised serious red flags when he was initially arrested on August 27 by Connecticut State Police while walking on a limited-access highway near Bradley International Airport. At the time, he told officers that he was on his way to see Bueckers. According to a UConn police report, during this encounter, Parmalee made the bizarre claim that he had fathered over 17,000 children and reiterated his intentions to meet Bueckers.
Further investigation into Parmalee’s past revealed a troubling criminal history dating back to 2002. His record includes charges of misdemeanor sexual abuse, harassment, burglary, driving under the influence, and possession of methamphetamine. Additionally, he has been involved in an arson case where he allegedly set a home on fire while his roommates and their pets were inside. Parmalee is also wanted on an extraditable arson charge in Oregon.
On Monday, Judge Rick Rubino issued a protective order against Parmalee, explicitly prohibiting him from assaulting, threatening, harassing, or stalking Bueckers. Despite the severity of the electronic stalking charge, Judge Rubino noted that the specific charge typically requires intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate, and she questioned whether such intent was evident in this case. Nevertheless, the protective order remains in place to safeguard Bueckers and those close to her.
According to an affidavit for an arrest warrant, Bueckers reported to authorities that Parmalee began sending her videos on Instagram in February. His behavior made her fear for her safety and the safety of her teammates and family. Given the nature of his actions and his criminal history, law enforcement and the university took swift action to ensure the basketball star’s protection.
Robert Cole Parmalee is scheduled to appear again at the Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville on October 22. As the case progresses, UConn and the authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the continued safety of Paige Bueckers and others potentially affected by Parmalee’s actions.