Paige Bueckers 'stalked and harassed' as man, 40, arrested by cops

A 40-year-old man appeared in court to face charges for ‘stalking and harassing’ UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers .

Robert Cole Parmalee, 40, of Grants Pass, Oregon, appeared in Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville on Monday after he was arrested on Friday by UConn Police who he told he was on his way to see Bueckers.

Parmalee was observed walking along a limited-access highway near Bradley International Airport outside Hartford where he revealed his intentions to go and see the 22-year-old. He was held on a $100,000 bond and is charged with breach of peace, electronic stalking and harassment.

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According to UConn Police, officials in UConn’s communications department became aware of Parmalee in June after receiving emails described by campus police as “rambling”. Police stated that Parmalee, also referred to as Parmelee in various documents and social media accounts, allegedly claimed he was a member of the royal family and wanted to marry a member of the Huskies women’s basketball team in emails.

A dozen of Parmalee’s social media posts contained references to Bueckers, including a post of a fake wedding invitation and photos of himself with what appears to be a diamond engagement ring. He posted before his arrest he intended to propose to Bueckers and have her kicked out of UConn.

Parmalee also posted disturbing social media messages which a UConn Police officer deemed as threatening to her friends and family. A post on his TikTok account read: "And if I cannot live with a woman of my choosing, [Bueckers], then I will choose to die, and I will choose to take all of you that [op]pose me, oppose us, to hell, and return, king..."

According to an affidavit on an arrest warrant application, Parmalee began attempting to contact Beuckers in February via Instagram. He is said to have sent videos that Bueckers told police she never responded to, admitting she was concerned about her safety and the safety of her family and teammates.

Protective and no-contact orders were issued for Parmalee in court. Judge Richard Rubino said that should Parmalee make bail he would be subject to “intense pretrial supervision” and GPS monitoring. His next appearance in court is scheduled for October 22 at Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville.

Parmalee also contacted officials at USC, LSU and a sports agent as well as emailing UConn, according to police. Beuckers’ attorneys have declined to comment and a UConn athletics spokesperson said that Bueckers, coach Geno Auriemma, or the women’s basketball team would be making a statement.

The point guard was the Big East Player of the Year and a first-team All-American last season. Bueckers averaged a career-high 21.9 points per game and helped the Huskies reach the Final Four.