A grim and unsettling development out of Delaware has cast an unexpected spotlight on a long-closed chapter of Jill Biden’s life. William Stevenson, the former husband of the onetime first lady, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his current wife, according to officials. The charge follows a weeks-long investigation that culminated in a grand jury indictment filed Monday.
Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody and is being held at the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $500,000 cash bail. Police have been notably restrained in releasing details, but earlier statements provide a stark outline of events. On December 28, officers responded to a reported domestic dispute at a residence in the Wilmington area.
Inside the home, they found Linda Stevenson, 64, unresponsive in the living room. Despite lifesaving efforts at the scene, she was pronounced dead, and her body was turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science for an autopsy.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the specific cause of death, and the indictment itself does not elaborate on the circumstances beyond the charge.
Police have described the case as the result of an “extensive weekslong investigation,” suggesting that prosecutors believe the evidence supports the most serious homicide charge available under state law. It remains unclear whether Stevenson has retained legal counsel.
Linda Stevenson’s obituary paints a portrait that contrasts sharply with the severity of the allegations. She was described as deeply family-oriented, an enthusiastic Philadelphia Eagles fan, and the founder of a small bookkeeping business she built later in life. The absence of a cause of death in public statements has only intensified interest in the case, as investigators and prosecutors maintain their silence ahead of court proceedings.
The case has also revived public attention to Stevenson’s earlier life and his brief marriage to Jill Tracy Jacobs, now Jill Biden. The two married in February 1970, when she was 18 and he was 23. Their marriage lasted five years, ending in a civil divorce in May 1975, shortly after Jill met then-Delaware Senator Joe Biden.
Stevenson later became a well-known figure in Newark, Delaware, after opening the Stone Balloon Club, a venue that earned national recognition and hosted major music acts for decades. Jill Biden reportedly sought to retain a half-share in the club after the divorce but was denied.
A representative for Joe and Jill Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and there is no indication they have any connection to the current case beyond historical association. As the legal process unfolds, the focus will remain on the facts presented in court, where prosecutors will be required to substantiate the grave charge now facing Stevenson.
