The Connecticut Superior Court issued a protective and no-contact order for Robert Cole Parmalee, the Oregon man charged with stalking and harassing UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers. Parmalee, 40, was arrested on Friday and is currently being held on a $100,000 bond. Judge Richard Rubino indicated that if Parmalee makes bail, he will be placed under “intense pretrial supervision” and subject to GPS monitoring.
Parmalee faces multiple charges, including second-degree breach of peace, electronic stalking, and second-degree harassment. The court documents show a troubling pattern of behavior leading up to his arrest. Bueckers, who is a high-profile basketball player at UConn, informed police she had never interacted with Parmalee but grew concerned for her safety after his arrest on August 27. In her written statement, Bueckers expressed fear for her own safety as well as that of her family and teammates.
Parmalee first appeared on UConn’s radar in June after sending a series of disturbing emails to the school’s communications department. These emails contained bizarre claims, such as him being part of the royal family, expressing a desire to marry Bueckers, and other unsettling comments. Investigations by the UConn police revealed additional alarming social media posts, some of which referenced other past and current UConn women’s basketball players. Although not all posts were deemed directly threatening, they raised concerns.
Reports also revealed Parmalee’s long history of criminal activity, spanning from 2002 to 2023, including charges of harassment, criminal mischief, and sexual abuse. His unsettling behavior extended beyond UConn, as he reportedly contacted officials at USC, LSU, and even Bueckers’ agent.
On August 27, Connecticut State Police found Parmalee walking near Bradley International Airport, 30 miles from UConn’s campus, where he said he was heading to see Bueckers. A warrant for his arrest on an unrelated arson charge in Oregon led to his detention. Parmalee was subsequently held at Hartford Correctional Center on a $100,000 bond.
His next court appearance is scheduled for October 22. Bueckers, an All-American player, is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, making the ongoing harassment even more concerning as she prepares for what is likely her final season at UConn. Neither Bueckers nor UConn women’s basketball team members have commented on the matter.
