Ex-Husband of Former U.S. First Lady Jill Biden Charged With First-Degree Murder in Wife’s Death
William “Bill” Stevenson, the former husband of U.S. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, authorities in Delaware announced Tuesday.
Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody Monday in Wilmington, Delaware, following a grand jury indictment filed in New Castle County Superior Court. Prosecutors allege he intentionally caused the death of 64-year-old Linda Stevenson.
Police said officers responded late on Dec. 28, 2025 to a reported domestic dispute at the Stevensons’ residence in the Oak Hill neighborhood of Wilmington. Upon arrival, they found Linda Stevenson unresponsive in the living room. Officers attempted life-saving measures, but she later was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following a weeks-long investigation, detectives presented evidence to a grand jury, which returned an indictment charging Stevenson with murder in the first degree. After his arrest without incident, he was arraigned and remains held at the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $500,000 bail, authorities said.
Stevenson was married to Jill Biden, then Jill Tracy Jacobs, in February 1970 when she was an 18-year-old University of Delaware student. Their marriage lasted five years before they separated and later divorced in 1975. Jill Biden subsequently met then-Senator Joe Biden in 1975 and later married him.
Officials with the Bidens’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the announcement of the charges.
No further details about the circumstances of Linda Stevenson’s death or possible motive have been released publicly, and authorities have declined to comment further on the ongoing investigation.
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