Bill Stevenson, the former husband of former first lady Jill Biden, has been charged with the murder of his current wife, Linda Stevenson, after authorities say she was found unresponsive in the couple’s Delaware home late last year.
Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody Monday by police in New Castle County following a weeks-long investigation into Linda Stevenson’s death. According to a statement from law enforcement, the case was presented to a grand jury, which returned an indictment charging Stevenson with murder.
Police said Stevenson was arraigned on a charge of first-degree murder and ordered held at the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $500,000 cash bail. Authorities did not immediately release additional details surrounding the alleged motive or circumstances beyond what was presented to the grand jury.
The case dates back to the night of December 28, when police were dispatched to the Stevenson residence shortly after 11 p.m. to investigate what local reports described as a possible domestic dispute. When officers arrived at the home, they found Linda Stevenson unresponsive inside.
Despite attempts to revive her, Linda Stevenson was later pronounced dead. Police launched an investigation that stretched for several weeks before ultimately leading to Bill Stevenson’s arrest and indictment.
Linda Stevenson had been married to Bill Stevenson for nearly four decades. The marriage followed Stevenson’s earlier relationship with Jill Jacobs, whom he divorced in 1975. Two years later, Jacobs went on to marry then-Senator Joe Biden in 1977, a union that would eventually place her in the role of first lady.
While the criminal case centers on events long after his connection to the Biden family ended, Stevenson’s past has drawn renewed public attention due to his former marriage to Jill Biden and his long-standing presence in Delaware.
Beyond his personal relationships, Stevenson is also known locally as a businessman. In 1972, he opened The Stone Balloon, a bar near the University of Delaware that became a popular destination for students and visitors. According to its website, the establishment was later recognized by Playboy magazine as one of the “100 Top College Bars in America.”
Authorities have emphasized that the murder charge stems solely from evidence gathered in the investigation into Linda Stevenson’s death. Neither Jill Biden nor any other member of the Biden family has been accused of wrongdoing or linked to the case beyond historical association.
The investigation was handled by New Castle County police, who said the decision to bring charges followed a thorough review of evidence and testimony presented to the grand jury. Stevenson remains in custody as the legal process moves forward.
The case is expected to proceed through the Delaware court system, where prosecutors will be required to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. For now, the indictment marks a dramatic and serious turn in a case that began with a late-night police call and has since drawn national attention due to Stevenson’s past ties to the Biden family.
