Photo: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
The lawyer for William D. DeFoor, the man accused of vandalizing Vice President JD Vance's Cincinnati home, stated that the incident was not politically motivated but rather due to DeFoor's mental health issues. The alleged vandalism occurred early Monday (January 4) morning while Vance and his wife were in Washington, D.C.
DeFoor, 26, faces federal and local charges, including vandalism, obstruction of official business, criminal damaging, and criminal trespass. DeFoor has a history of legal issues related to his mental competency. In 2023, he was charged with trespassing at a psychiatric facility, but the case was dismissed after he was deemed incompetent to stand trial.
DeFoor allegedly broke windows at Vance's residence. The Secret Service detained him before handing him over to the Cincinnati Police Department. Vance, who was not in Ohio at the time, expressed gratitude for the quick response by law enforcement and described the suspect as "a crazy person" attempting to break in.
Court records indicate that DeFoor's mother was granted legal guardianship in 2024 due to his mental illness. The ongoing legal proceedings will likely focus on his mental health status and its impact on his actions.