CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Parents of the man who is accused of rushing Vice President JD Vance’s home with a hammer spoke out as their son made his first court appearances.
The mother of the alleged vandal, William DeFoor, spoke out Tuesday afternoon outside the federal courthouse in Cincinnati. The 26-year-old is facing multiple charges in both state and federal courts. He’s been in and out of trouble for the past two and a half years, it appears primarily due to his mental illness.
But attacking the Vice President’s house – even though no one was home – raises his jeopardy to a new level.
William DeFoor’s Tuesday began in municipal court. He is facing state charges that include trespassing and felony vandalism. DeFoor was accused of running along the Vance’s front yard fence line with a hammer, then whacking a Secret Service vehicle parked in the driveway, before running up to the front of the home and smashing several windowpanes. Police said he tried to run away but Secret Service agents caught him. The prosecution asked for a high bond.
“The defendant is currently under supervision with felony mental health court for a case that has similar facts,” said Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Connor Wood.
The defense attorney Paul Laufman said his client does suffer from mental illness and was not making a political statement.
“This had nothing to do with the specifics of the Vice President,” said Laufman, “As much as it was simply an expression of somebody who’s not in a controlled mental health situation.”
DeFoor then went before a federal judge. He faces 40 years on charges including damaging government property, violence against something on restricted grounds, and resisting arrest. His parents, both local physicians, spoke after the hearing.
“Mental illness is a terrible thing,” began Dr. Catherine DeFoor. “It is a struggle which can take over the life of a beautiful person and the people who love and support them. Unfortunately, for our child, it is taken over his life in a way that we could never have imagined.”
She described her son as a straight-A student. He got a perfect ACT score and received a full college scholarship to study music.
“He loves writing poetry,” she said. “When healthy, he is full of joy and laughter.”
Dr. DeFoor praised the police, the Secret Service, and the media before ending with a prayer for her son and for the Vice President.
“Also please be with the Vance family. I am only beginning to learn what it feels like to try and raise a family in the public eye, and they are putting themselves there to support our democracy.”
The federal judge is holding DeFoor pending a detention hearing on Friday. At that point the judge will set bond.
Local 12 asked DeFoor’s attorney whether his client is aware of what he did and his current situation. He declined to comment.
It’s up to the federal prosecutors to decide whether they will proceed first with their case, or allow the state to proceed. Either way, DeFoor’s attorney expects the process to take months.