Authorities in Delaware have charged Bill Stevenson, the former husband of First Lady Jill Biden, with first-degree murder in the death of his wife following a domestic disturbance last month.
Police arrested Stevenson, 77, on Monday after completing a weeks-long investigation. Prosecutors charged him in connection with the death of Linda Stevenson, 64.
Police Responded to Domestic Disturbance
Officers from the New Castle County Division of Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a home in Oak Hill, Wilmington, late on December 28.
When officers entered the home, they found Linda Stevenson unresponsive in the living room.
Police attempted life-saving measures. However, she died at the scene.
Authorities have not released further details about the cause of death or what happened before officers arrived.
Arrest Followed Month-Long Investigation
Stevenson cooperated with police at the time of the incident, according to media reports. Until this week, authorities had not filed charges.
Following the investigation:
- Police arrested Stevenson at the same home where his wife was found
- Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder
- A judge set bail at $500,000
Stevenson failed to post bail and remains held at the Howard Young Correctional Institution.
Past Ties to Jill Biden
Stevenson married Jill Jacobs, now Jill Biden, in 1970 while she attended Brandywine Junior College.
During their marriage, she used the name Jill Stevenson.
The couple divorced in 1975.
After the divorce:
- Jill Biden married then-Senator Joe Biden in 1977
- Stevenson continued running the Stone Balloon, a popular college bar near the University of Delaware
The Stone Balloon later gained national attention. Rolling Stone once described it as “one of the best kept secrets in Rock and Roll.”
Disputes Over Personal History
In later years, Stevenson publicly disputed accounts from the Biden campaign about how Jill Biden met her future husband.
He claimed the two met during a local political campaign in the early 1970s.
Biden representatives denied that account and stated the couple met on a blind date arranged after Jill’s divorce.
Stevenson also accused Jill Biden of having an affair. A Biden spokesperson rejected that claim at the time.
Limited Public Details Remain
Authorities have not released:
- A cause of death
- Details of the alleged domestic dispute
- Evidence leading to the murder charge
The police department has not provided additional comment beyond confirming the charge.
The case remains under investigation.
Delaware authorities have charged Bill Stevenson with murder following a domestic incident that led to his wife’s death, ending weeks of investigation and raising renewed public attention due to his past connection to the First Lady.
Sources: The Independent
