Man accused of stalking UConn star Paige Bueckers made bizarre marriage claims

Connecticut authorities have apprehended and charged a 40-year-old man from Oregon for stalking and harassing UConn basketball sensation Paige Bueckers.

Robert Cole Parmalee was served with an arrest warrant by UConn police while at Hartford Correctional Center and was held on $100,000 bond after appearing in court on Monday, as reported by ESPN. 

Parmalee was officially charged with breach of peace, electronic stalking, and harassment.

UConn became aware of Parmalee in June after receiving “rambling” emails from him claiming to be a member of the royal family and expressing a desire to marry a member of the UConn women’s basketball team, according to UConn Police.

Parmalee allegedly made numerous social media posts referencing Bueckers and posted content that appeared threatening to the UConn basketball star, her friends, and family. 

According to ESPN, Parmalee posted on his TikTok account threatening to harm himself and others if he couldn’t be with a woman of his choice, seemingly alluding to Bueckers. 

Other social media posts by Parmalee referenced Bueckers and included fake wedding invitations and images of an engagement ring.

Parmalee was initially arrested by Connecticut State Police on Aug. 27 while walking on a restricted-access highway near Bradley International Airport. He informed officers that he was on his way to see Bueckers. 

WTNH reported that a UConn Police report stated, “During this interaction, Parmalee declared that he had fathered over 17,000 children and was going to see Paige [UCONN WBB Player Paige Bueckers].”

State police arrested Parmalee upon discovering that he had an outstanding warrant in Oregon and was facing extradition back to the state. However, UConn learned that the charges were going to be dismissed by the state. 

Judge Rick Rubino issued a protective order against Parmalee during his court appearance on Monday. 

“You cannot assault, threaten, abuse, harass, follow, interfere with, or stalk that person,” Rubino told Parmalee in court. 

Parmalee is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 22. 

He was represented by public defender Katie Mallach, who assured the court that Parmalee had been officially trespassed by UConn and would comply with the order. 

Mallach contested the electronic stalking charge, stating that it requires the intent to harm, harass, or intimidate a person, which she did not see in the warrant or police report.

According to an affidavit for an arrest warrant application, Bueckers informed authorities that Parmalee started sending her videos on Instagram in February and expressed concerns for her safety, as well as that of her teammates and family.