An Oregon man, Robert Cole Parmalee, 40, has been arrested and charged with stalking and harassing University of Connecticut women’s basketball player Paige Bueckers. The arrest came after police discovered several concerning social media posts made by Parmalee, in which he fantasized about having a relationship with Bueckers.
According to an arrest affidavit from the UConn Police Department, Parmalee faces charges of breaching the peace, electronic stalking, and harassment. The incident first came to light in the summer of 2024 when members of UConn’s communications department received emails from Parmalee containing rambling comments about Bueckers.
In the emails, Parmalee claimed to be a member of the royal family and expressed a desire to marry Bueckers. He also made references to Greek mythology, comparing himself to Apollo and Bueckers to Athena. Further investigation revealed similar posts on social media platforms, including a poem where Parmalee asked Bueckers to marry him.
While initial postings were deemed abnormal but not threatening, Parmalee's behavior escalated with more emails in July mentioning Bueckers and other college basketball players. Parmalee was later arrested in Connecticut after being found near Bradley International Airport, claiming he was going to see Bueckers. He was wanted in Oregon on arson charges at the time.
An arrest warrant for stalking and harassment was issued, citing evidence from social media platforms showing Parmalee's fantasized relationship with Bueckers. Bueckers confirmed receiving direct messages from Parmalee on Instagram but had no direct contact with him. She expressed concerns for her safety and that of her family and teammates.
Parmalee appeared in court and is being held on a $100,000 bond with a protective and no-contact order issued for Bueckers. His criminal history includes charges ranging from criminal mischief to possession of methamphetamine. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 22.
