JD Vance Home Vandal Identified as William “Julia” DeFoor, Son of Wealthy Doctor and Democratic Donor

Authorities have identified the alleged vandal accused of breaking multiple windows at Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati residence as William DeFoor, 26, who has recently gone by the name Julia DeFoor.

DeFoor was arrested early Monday after shattering four windows at Vance’s home around midnight. Police said the suspect was attempting to break into the residence. The Vances were not in Ohio at the time, having relocated to their official residence in Washington, DC, after the inauguration.

Background on the Suspect

William DeFoor identifies as transgender or nonbinary, though police listed him as male in arrest records. Court documents reveal a history of mental health issues and prior encounters with the law.

• In 2024, DeFoor was sentenced to two years of mandatory mental health treatment following two counts of vandalism at a local interior design company.

• In April 2023, he was charged with trespassing at UC Health’s psychiatric and emergency services. A judge later dismissed the charges after determining he was not mentally competent to stand trial. 

  

  Willian DeFoor, 26, was arrested on Monday.

  
  

DeFoor’s family is prominent and wealthy:

• His father, also named William, is a Harvard-educated pediatric urologist and professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

• The family resides in a $1.3 million Hyde Park home.

• Federal records show the elder DeFoor is a Democratic donor, having contributed to Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign and previously supporting Joe Biden and Harris in 2020 and 2024. He has also backed a federal assault weapons ban.

Education and Personal History

• The younger DeFoor graduated from Summit Country Day School in 2018, once considered a candidate for the US Presidential Scholars Program.

• He briefly attended the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music before reportedly dropping out in 2020 and later enrolling at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

  

  Pediatric urologist William DeFoor Jr. and Catherine DeFoor, the suspect’s parents.

   

Charges and Court Proceedings

DeFoor faces multiple criminal charges including:

• Obstructing official business

• Criminal damaging or endangering

• Criminal trespass

• Vandalism

His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

Police and court officials continue to monitor the case, citing DeFoor’s mental health history as a factor in both his previous legal encounters and current charges.