The former First Lady has tried to stay out of the spotlight. But she can’t hide anymore.
Because Jill Biden was thrown for a loop after her ex-husband was suddenly arrested.
Arrest and Charges in Delaware
William Stevenson, the ex-husband of former First Lady Jill Biden, was arrested on February 2, 2026, and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Linda Stevenson. The 77-year-old Stevenson faces one felony count of first-degree murder following an indictment by a grand jury in New Castle County Superior Court, Delaware. Authorities from the New Castle County Police Department took him into custody at his residence without incident after the indictment was issued.
Linda Stevenson, aged 64, was found unresponsive in their home in the Oak Hill area near Wilmington on December 28, 2025, following a domestic dispute call to police. Officers attempted to revive her but pronounced her dead at the scene.
The cause of death has not been publicly released. After a weeks-long investigation by detectives from the police department’s Criminal Investigations Unit, in coordination with the Delaware Department of Justice, the case was presented to the grand jury, leading to the charges.
Background on the Individuals
William Stevenson, also known as Bill Stevenson, was married to Jill Biden (then Jill Jacobs) from February 1970 until their divorce in May 1975. At the time of their marriage, Jill was 18 and Stevenson was 23. The couple lived in Delaware, where Stevenson owns The Stone Balloon, a college bar near the University of Delaware.
Jill Biden remarried in 1977 to then-Senator Joe Biden. Historical accounts of the timeline surrounding their relationships have varied in public statements over the years, including differing recollections about when Jill and Joe Biden first met.
Linda Stevenson was William Stevenson’s current wife at the time of her death. No further details about their marriage or personal life have been widely reported in connection with the case.
Legal Proceedings and Current Status
Stevenson was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after he was unable to post $500,000 cash bail. He remains in custody pending further proceedings.
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the December 28 incident, though specific details about the alleged crime or evidence have not been disclosed publicly by authorities. Multiple news outlets, including NBC News, The New York Times, BBC, Fox News, and others, have reported on the arrest and charges based on statements from the New Castle County Police Department.
This case has drawn attention due to Stevenson’s past marriage to Jill Biden, though the charges relate solely to the death of Linda Stevenson and do not involve any other individuals mentioned in historical contexts.
The matter is ongoing in the Delaware court system, with no trial date or additional developments reported as of early February 2026.
