Man Arrested for Vandalizing Vice President J.D. Vance’s Home

A 26-year-old man was arrested early Monday morning in connection with vandalism at Vice President J.D. Vance’s residence in Cincinnati. Authorities reported that the suspect, William DeFoor, requested to be addressed as “Julia,” which raised concerns about his mental health history, according to federal sources.

DeFoor faces several charges, including criminal damage to property, obstruction of official business, and trespassing, based on jail records. When taken into custody, he made the unusual request to be called “Julia,” as noted by an FBI official.

Court documents reveal that DeFoor has had multiple legal issues in Hamilton County in recent years, with many cases highlighting mental competency evaluations. For instance, in April 2023, he was charged with trespassing at the University of Cincinnati Health’s Psychiatric Emergency Services but had the case dismissed due to incompetency to stand trial.

Further complicating matters, in 2024, he faced two counts of criminal damage after breaking a window at a store in Hyde Park. Again, his mental health records were referenced, and the court mandated treatment rather than a conviction.

In a separate courtroom proceeding in October 2024, a Hamilton County court declared DeFoor’s mother incompetent due to mental health issues and granted her legal guardianship.

The Secret Service has indicated that DeFoor caused damage by breaking a window at the vice president’s private residence. Fortunately, no one was present in the home at the time of the incident, as Vance and his family were out of state.

Following the arrest, Vice President Vance made a statement on social media, describing the alarming situation as an attempt by a “crazy person” to invade his home. He expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the Secret Service and Cincinnati Police, noting they were not home during the incident.