Jill Biden’s Ex-Husband Charged in Murder of His Current Wife

Jill Biden’s Ex‑Husband Charged with Murder in 2025 Death of His Wife

By [Your Name], Special Correspondent
Updated February 4, 2026

In a case that has drawn national attention — in part because of who the accused is once connected to — William “Bill” Stevenson, the former husband of former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, has been indicted on a charge of first‑degree murder in the death of his current wife, Linda Stevenson. Authorities in Delaware announced the charge following a weeks‑long investigation into the late‑December death of Linda at the couple’s Wilmington area home.

This article provides a full examination of what is known about the case — the incident, the legal proceedings, the individuals involved, and how the situation is being received publicly — as details emerge.

The Crime: What Happened on December 28, 2025

On the night of December 28, 2025, officers from the New Castle County Police Department in Delaware responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a residence in the Oak Hill community near Wilmington. According to police statements, the call came just after 11 p.m., and when officers arrived they found 64‑year‑old Linda Stevenson unresponsive on the living room floor of the home she shared with her husband, William Stevenson.

Police and emergency medical personnel attempted life‑saving measures, but Linda was later pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement did not immediately release precise details about her injuries or the cause of her death, indicating that a post‑mortem autopsy by the Delaware Division of Forensic Science would determine the official cause and manner of death.

For weeks afterward, authorities conducted an extensive investigation into the incident. Detectives gathered evidence, reviewed the circumstances reported by officers and neighbors, and presented findings to a grand jury. That process culminated in the indictment of William Stevenson on a single count of first‑degree murder, a felony offense under Delaware law.

The Indictment and Arrest

On February 2, 2026, a grand jury in New Castle County Superior Court returned the indictment charging Stevenson with murder in the first degree. This level of charge typically signifies that prosecutors believe the killing was intentional and premeditated. However, authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive or specific evidence linking Stevenson to the killing.

Shortly after the indictment, police officers took Stevenson into custody at his Wilmington home without incident. He was then booked into the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, where he remains in custody after failing to post $500,000 in cash bail.

Stevenson has not publicly commented, and court records reviewed by news outlets have not confirmed whether he has hired legal counsel. At this time there has been no trial date set, and pretrial motions — if or when they occur — will be handled by the Delaware Superior Court.

Who Was Linda Stevenson?

While much of the early media focus has centered on the charge against Stevenson and his past association with Jill Biden, Linda Stevenson’s life and character have drawn attention from local community members and family.

According to her obituary and local reporting, Linda was a bookkeeper and small‑business owner who was deeply family‑oriented. She was described as a mother and grandmother, devoted to her loved ones, and engaged in her community.

Her obituary and tributes highlight her warm personality, her resilience, and her role as a supportive presence in her family’s life. She was also noted for personal interests, such as being a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

Family members have expressed frustration at the media’s focus on Stevenson’s past marriage to Jill Biden rather than on Linda’s life and legacy. Those close to her emphasize that she was a beloved figure whose life should not be overshadowed by the criminal charges now facing her husband.

William Stevenson: Background and Public Life
Early Life and Marriage to Jill Biden

William Stevenson is 77 years old and has spent much of his adult life in the Delaware area. He is perhaps best known, historically, for his brief marriage to Jill Biden (then Jill Tracy Jacobs) in the early 1970s. The couple married in 1970, when Jill was about 18 and Stevenson was 23. They were married for approximately five years, divorcing in 1975.

Their marriage was during a period when both were young and starting out. After their divorce, Jill Biden went on to meet and marry then‑Senator Joe Biden in 1977, a relationship that eventually led to her role as First Lady of the United States from 2021 to 2025.

Post‑Divorce Career and Personal Life

After the divorce, Stevenson remained active in the local community. He founded the Stone Balloon, a popular bar and music venue in Newark, Delaware, which became a well‑known spot for live music and social gatherings over several decades. The venue hosted performances by notable acts and developed a reputation as a cultural touchstone in the region.

Stevenson later married Linda in the mid‑1980s, and the couple remained together for more than 30 years until her death. Over that time, he largely withdrew from public life, although he occasionally appeared in local media or gave interviews about community issues and his past experiences.

In recent years, Stevenson made headlines in 2024 for publicly disputing parts of the Bidens’ account of how Jill Biden met Joe Biden during the 1970s. His comments sparked public debate but were vigorously denied by Biden’s representatives at the time, and the controversy did not have broad lasting impact.

Legal Framework: First‑Degree Murder in Delaware

Under Delaware law, a first‑degree murder charge is one of the most serious categories of homicide. It encompasses killings that are intentional, premeditated, or carried out with extreme indifference to human life. While specifics of how the prosecution will argue their case against Stevenson have not been publicly released, an indictment of this nature typically signals that prosecutors believe they have sufficient evidence to proceed toward trial on the most serious charge available.

In Delaware, a conviction for first‑degree murder can carry life imprisonment, and because the state abolished the death penalty in 2024, the maximum punishment would be life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Public and Media Reaction

News of the indictment quickly spread across national news outlets and social media. Many reports have highlighted Stevenson’s brief historical connection to Jill Biden, which has fueled widespread interest beyond the local Delaware community. Coverage ranges from straightforward reporting of the events and legal development to commentary on how high‑profile names are linked to breaking crime news.

However, some commentators and community voices have pushed back against what they see as unnecessary sensationalism. They argue that because Stevenson’s marriage to Jill Biden ended more than 50 years ago, his past relationship should not overshadow the more pressing legal and human elements of the current case — particularly the loss of Linda’s life.

Family members of Linda have echoed this sentiment, expressing a desire that media and public attention focus on Linda’s memory instead of the political aspects of Stevenson’s history.

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