On the early hours of Monday morning, President Donald Trump's Vice President, JD Vance's secondary residence in East Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, was targeted in a vandalism incident. William D DeFoor, a 26-year-old hailing from an affluent family in Cincinnati's Hyde Park neighborhood, was arrested following the disturbance at the $1.4 million property.
The suspect, whose parents are both practicing physicians and registered Democrats, has been charged with multiple offenses including obstructing official business, criminal damaging or endangering, criminal trespass, and vandalism. DeFoor's father, William, is a pediatric urologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and his mother, Catherine, serves as a general pediatrician in Kentucky.
Having attended The Summit Country Day School, a prestigious Catholic institution, DeFoor was recognized as a National AP Scholar and was active in the school's drama program. Despite enrolling at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music in 2018, DeFoor departed without earning a degree and later attended Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
The incident, which did not result in any injuries as the Vice President and his family were in Washington, DC at the time, involved DeFoor allegedly damaging a Secret Service vehicle and smashing four windows of the property. Secret Service agents apprehended the suspect after hearing a loud noise and observing the individual fleeing the scene.
The attack's motive remains undisclosed by authorities. However, it is known that DeFoor has a history of vandalism, pleading guilty in April to causing over $2,000 in damage to an interior design company. The suspect was ordered to undergo treatment at a mental health facility and pay restitution as part of the sentence for that offense.
Adding to the complexity of the case, the suspect appears to identify as a trans woman, using the name "Julia" on a Facebook profile that also indicates a connection with Heartland Trans Wellness, a support group. The suspect's father has been a significant Democratic donor, contributing to Kamala Harris's campaign and the Democratic Party political action committee ActBlue.
The Vice President's property, acquired for $1.4 million, overlooks the Ohio River and spans 2.3 acres. Since taking his oath of office in January 2025, Vance has resided at the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, with his family, using the Cincinnati home as their secondary residence. Vance addressed the incident on social media, expressing gratitude for the well wishes and the prompt response of the Secret Service and Cincinnati police.
