Robert Cole Parmalee, a 40-year-old man, has been accused of stalking and harassing Paige Bueckers, a prominent basketball player for the University of Connecticut (UConn). He allegedly claimed on social media that he intended to marry her and was found with an engagement ring and lingerie when arrested near a Connecticut airport, according to police reports.
Parmalee’s troubling behavior became evident through numerous TikTok posts and emails directed at UConn officials, where he expressed infatuation with Bueckers and made threatening comments. His communications escalated over time, prompting concern from the authorities, police stated. Despite initially not warranting criminal charges, the alarming nature of his messages prompted a closer investigation.
On August 27, Parmalee was apprehended while walking along a highway close to Bradley International Airport, which is near Hartford. When encountered by a state trooper, he indicated that he had just arrived from the Pacific Northwest with the intention of seeing Bueckers. He was detained after the trooper discovered an outstanding arrest warrant from Josephine County, Oregon, which accused him of a previous crime involving setting a home ablaze while occupants were inside, including pets.
After his arrest, a Connecticut court ordered Parmalee to be held on $100,000 bail. He is prohibited from coming into contact with a person identified in court documents as “P.B.” and is banned from the UConn campus located in Storrs. He has a criminal record that dates back to 2002, including charges related to harassment, sexual abuse, and drug possession.
A UConn police officer noted in an affidavit that Parmalee exhibited a continuous pattern of concerning and increasingly aggressive behavior towards Bueckers over the past two weeks. This behavior, which involved sending electronic messages and making threats against individuals close to her, caused considerable emotional distress.
Although the name of the student involved was redacted in the arrest warrant affidavit, Parmalee referred to her as “V1” in his posts, explicitly expressing his desire to marry her. The affidavit revealed that V1 had been receiving various non-threatening videos via her Instagram direct messages from Parmalee since February but had previously chosen not to engage with him.
Concern for her safety, as well as for her family and teammates, intensified after she learned about Parmalee’s arrest. In one of his TikTok videos viewed by the Associated Press, he commented on a photo of Bueckers with another man, suggesting he would eliminate anyone posing a challenge to his affection for her.
Additionally, Parmalee made alarming declarations online regarding his intentions with Bueckers, even going so far as to threaten self-harm and harm to others if he could not be with her. He openly stated his plans to see Bueckers and included a photo of himself with airline tickets indicating his upcoming arrival.
After being taken into custody for the arson warrant out of Oregon, Parmalee faced additional charges in Connecticut for felony stalking, misdemeanor harassment, and breach of peace. As the investigation progresses, the potential risks associated with his actions continue to be a significant concern for law enforcement and the UConn community.
