A 40-year-old Oregon man appeared in Connecticut Supreme Court on Monday on charges he stalked and harassed UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers, including threatening violence if the two were not allowed to meet.
Robert Cole Parmalee of Grants Pass, Oregon, was charged with disturbing the peace, electronic stalking and harassment. Parmalee was arrested twice in the past month – first on Aug. 27 by Connecticut State Police when he was found on a highway near Bradley International Airport saying he wanted to propose to Bueckers, then on Friday by UConn Police while he was still incarcerated at the Hartford Correctional Center.
According to reports, there was a warrant out for Parmalee’s arrest in Oregon, and his extradition was scheduled to take place before UConn police arrested him.
Both a restraining order and a no-contact order were issued on Monday. Parmalee is being held on $100,000 bail.
According to UConn police, the university’s communications department received “sprawling” emails from Parmalee in June claiming he was a member of the royal family and wanted to marry a member of the women’s basketball team. Posts on a TikTok account purporting to belong to Parmelee include a wedding invitation for the two, photos of him at the airport before traveling to Connecticut, and threats against Bueckers’ friends and family.
Citing an arrest warrant affidavit, ESPN reported that Parmalee began sending videos via Instagram to Bueckers, identified as Victim 1, in February. The 22-year-old told police she never responded and was concerned for her safety and that of her family and teammates.
Bueckers’ attorneys declined to comment to ESPN. Parmalee’s next court date is scheduled for October 22.
