William Stevenson, Jill Biden's Ex‑Husband, Indicted in Wife’s Death
Grand jury indicted William Stevenson on Dec. 28 on a first-degree murder charge; he remains jailed after failing to post $500,000 bail.
Overview
New Castle County prosecutors said a grand jury indicted William Stevenson, 77, on first-degree murder in the Dec. 28 death of Linda Stevenson, 64; he remains jailed after failing to post $500,000 bail.
New Castle County police said officers answered a reported domestic dispute shortly after 11 p.m. on Dec. 28 and found Linda Stevenson unresponsive in the living room; authorities have not disclosed a cause or motive.
Delaware Department of Justice detectives said they presented the case to a grand jury after a weeks-long investigation and that Stevenson was taken into custody at his Wilmington home without incident.
A spokesperson for former U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady said Jill Biden declined to comment, while Linda Stevenson’s daughter Christine Mae posted that her mother "deserves her own story," according to the post.
Officials said the Delaware Division of Forensic Science is conducting an autopsy and prosecutors said the criminal investigation and forthcoming court proceedings will continue.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by foregrounding the suspect’s past marriage to Jill Biden — opening with that link and repeating it early — which primes readers toward a political hook. Editorial choices prioritize the suspect’s background (Stone Balloon, Newsmax comments) while offering limited detail about the victim beyond obituary excerpts and a family rebuttal.
Sources (11)
FAQ
William Stevenson, 77, is Jill Biden's ex-husband; they married in 1970 when she was 18 and he was 23, and divorced in 1975. He later founded The Stone Balloon bar and music venue in Newark, Delaware.
On December 28, 2025, New Castle County police responded to a reported domestic dispute at the Stevensons' home in Wilmington's Oak Hill neighborhood around 11 p.m.; they found Linda Stevenson, 64, unresponsive in the living room, attempted lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Stevenson was indicted by a grand jury on February 2, 2026, on one count of first-degree murder for intentionally causing his wife's death; he was arrested without incident, arraigned, and is held in Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $500,000 bail.
A spokesperson for former President Joe Biden and Jill Biden stated that Jill Biden declined to comment on the indictment.
Authorities have not disclosed the cause of Linda Stevenson's death or any motive; an autopsy is being conducted by the Delaware Division of Forensic Science, and the investigation continues.
History
7 sources