STORRS, Conn. — A man accused of stalking and harassing UConn basketball player Paige Bueckers was arrested Friday by campus police.
According to UConn Police, officials in the school’s communications department became aware of 40-year-old Robert Parmalee in June after receiving “rambling” emails that included comments about his desire to marry a member of the women’s basketball team, ESPN reports. Parmalee also posted dozens of statements on social media that showed infatuation with Bueckers and included threats.
“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,” read one of his TikTok posts.
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Parmalee was first arrested by Connecticut State Police on Aug. 27 after an officer found him walking along a highway near Bradley International Airport. The trooper was notified by dispatch that Parmalee had an outstanding warrant in Oregon related to an incident where he was accused of setting a house on fire with roommates and pets inside. Police said Parmalee told the arresting officer that he was going to UConn to see Bueckers and that he had an engagement ring and lingerie in his possession.
UConn Police Issue Arrest Warrant for Alleged Stalker
Bueckers told UConn police that she was concerned about her safety and the safety of her family and teammates. Parmalee was originally set to be extradited to Oregon but UConn police were notified that those charges were going to be dismissed. At that point, UConn police served an arrest warrant to Parmalee at the Hartford Correctional Center on Friday, according to the Associated Press.
“Parmalee has shown a continual, escalating behavior and directed effort to make electronic postings about [Bueckers] and threats against those close with [Bueckers] which has caused emotional distress over the past two weeks for [Bueckers],” a UConn police officer wrote in an affidavit.
Parmalee started sending Instagram messages to Bueckers in February but she told police she did not respond. Other posts uncovered by the Associated Press discussed sacrificing a man who Bueckers had taken a photo with, finding her mother’s home, and bringing her flowers. Shortly before arriving in Connecticut, Parmalee wrote in another post, “I’m coming to UCONN Paige Madison Bueckers, I’ll be in Hartford tomorrow morning.”
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Parmalee has been charged with breach of peace, electronic stalking, and harassment. Protective and no-contact orders were issued for Parmalee in court on Monday. If Parmalee makes bail, Judge Richard Rubino said he would be subject to “intense pretrial supervision” and GPS monitoring. His next court appearance is set for Oct. 22 at Connecticut Superior Court.
According to police reports, Parmalee has a criminal history dating back to 2022 that includes arrests for misdemeanor sexual abuse, harassment, burglary, driving under the influence, and possession of methamphetamine.
