A Delaware man who was previously married to Jill Biden is facing a first-degree murder charge following the death of his wife, as authorities continue to withhold key details about the case.
William “Bill” Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody on February 2 and charged in connection with the death of his wife, Linda Stevenson, 64. According to the New Castle County Police Department, Linda was found unresponsive in the living room of the couple’s home after officers responded to a reported domestic dispute late on the night of December 28.
Officers attempted life-saving measures, but Linda was pronounced dead at the scene, police confirmed in a statement. Stevenson was later indicted on a first-degree murder charge and arrested without incident, authorities said.
Arrest follows weeks-long investigation
Stevenson is currently being held in lieu of $500,000 bail after failing to meet the cash bond requirement. Fox affiliate WTXF reported that he has been committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution. Police have not released the cause or manner of Linda Stevenson’s death, and no possible motive has been disclosed.
TMZ reported that Stevenson was the individual who placed the 911 call on the night of the incident and that dispatch audio referenced a possible cardiac arrest. The outlet also noted that Stevenson cooperated with responding officers at the scene.
The New Castle County Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details surrounding the circumstances of Linda’s death have been made public.
Past ties to the first lady
Stevenson was married to Jill Biden from 1970 to 1975. The two wed when Stevenson was 23 and Biden, then known as Jill Tracy Jacobs, was 18 and attending the University of Delaware. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1975.
Jill Biden later married Joe Biden in 1977, while he was serving as a U.S. senator from Delaware.
Stevenson is also known locally as the owner of The Stone Balloon, a well-known college bar near the University of Delaware that has hosted major music acts over the years. According to prior reports, Jill Biden sought to retain a partial ownership stake in the venue following their divorce but was unsuccessful.
Authorities have not indicated when further information about the case may be released.
