A grim and disturbing case out of Delaware has landed uncomfortably close to the political spotlight. William “Bill” Stevenson, the former husband of former first lady Jill Biden, has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the death of his wife, Linda Stevenson, according to local authorities.
Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody Monday after a weeks long investigation into Linda Stevenson’s death at the couple’s Delaware home. A New Castle County grand jury returned the indictment, and police confirmed the charge Tuesday. Stevenson was arraigned on first degree murder and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $500,000 cash bail.
Police were called to the Stevenson residence shortly after 11 p.m. on December 28 following a reported domestic dispute. When officers arrived, they found Linda Stevenson, 64, unresponsive on the floor. Emergency responders attempted life saving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the official cause of death, though investigators described the incident as stemming from a domestic dispute.
According to police, detectives spent weeks reviewing evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing the scene before presenting the case to the grand jury. That process ultimately led prosecutors to pursue the most serious charge available. Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active as the case proceeds through the court system.
Stevenson and Linda had been married for nearly four decades, a detail that only deepens the tragedy. Long marriages do not typically end in police tape and murder indictments, and the case has shaken the local community.
Stevenson is not a public official, but his past connection to the Biden family has drawn national attention. His earlier marriage to Jill Jacobs ended in divorce in 1975. Two years later, she married then Senator Joe Biden, a union that would eventually place her in the White House as first lady.
Beyond his personal ties, Stevenson is a longtime Delaware businessman. He is the owner of The Stone Balloon, a bar near the University of Delaware campus that he opened in 1972. The venue became a local institution and later gained national attention after being named one of the top college bars in America by Playboy magazine. That colorful legacy now sits in stark contrast to the allegations he faces.
Jill Biden, now 74, has not commented publicly on her former husband’s arrest, and there is no indication she had any involvement or prior knowledge of the events leading to the charge. Authorities have made clear the case is being handled as a standalone criminal matter.
The situation is a reminder that proximity to power does not insulate anyone from tragedy or accountability. As the legal process unfolds, the focus will remain where it belongs, on the facts, the evidence, and the pursuit of justice for Linda Stevenson.