CINCINNATI, OHIO — William DeFoor, 26, was arrested early Monday morning after allegedly shattering windows at the Cincinnati residence of Vice President JD Vance.
Authorities stated that DeFoor attempted to break into the home around midnight using a hammer. He is accused of breaking four windows during the incident. Neither the Vice President nor his family were at the Ohio property at the time, having recently moved to the official vice presidential residence in Washington, D.C. following the inauguration.
Suspect Details and Background
While police reports list the suspect as male under the name William, recent social media activity suggests DeFoor has been using the name "Julia." Booking photos released by authorities show DeFoor with unkempt hair following the arrest.
DeFoor is the son of a prominent Cincinnati family. His father, Dr. William DeFoor, is a Harvard-educated pediatric urologist and a professor at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine. The family resides in a home valued at $1.3 million in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
Public federal records indicate that the elder DeFoor has a history of donating to Democratic campaigns. This includes contributions to the 2020 and 2024 campaigns of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, respectively. He has also publicly supported a federal assault weapons ban.
Previous Legal and Mental Health History
The suspect has a documented history involving law enforcement and mental health interventions. In 2018, DeFoor graduated from Summit Country Day School and was considered a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. However, he reportedly dropped out of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music in 2020.
Court documents reveal previous legal issues. In April 2023, DeFoor was charged with trespassing at UC Health psychiatric services. A judge later dismissed those counts, ruling that DeFoor was not mentally competent to stand trial.
In 2024, he was sentenced to two years of mandatory mental health treatment following vandalism charges involving a local interior design company. That treatment period is reportedly still ongoing.
Following Monday's incident, DeFoor has been charged with vandalism, criminal trespassing, criminal damaging or endangering, and obstructing official business. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday.
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