Wilmington, Delaware, 04 February (H.S.): William Bill Stevenson, the 77-year-old former husband of ex-U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, faces first-degree murder charges after a grand jury indictment unsealed on Monday, February 2, 2026, in connection with the December 28, 2025, slaying of his wife, Linda Stevenson, at their home in New Castle County's Oak Hill community.

Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance call at approximately 11:16 p.m. on that fateful Saturday evening in the 1300 block of Idlewood Road, where they discovered the 64-year-old victim unresponsive in the living room; despite immediate life-saving interventions, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Stevenson, arrested without incident that Monday, remains incarcerated after failing to post the $500,000 bail, as confirmed by the New Castle County Police Department and Delaware Attorney General's Office.

A weeks-long probe by the Delaware Department of Justice's Criminal Investigations Unit culminated in the indictment, with Linda's remains forwarded to the state Division of Forensic Science for autopsy—though the precise cause of death has not been publicly disclosed alongside the charges.

Caroline Harrison, spokesperson for Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, verified Stevenson's prior marriage to Jill Biden during a phone interview, underscoring the case's high-profile ties.

The couple's union traces back to February 1970, when a then-18-year-old Jill Jacobs— a University of Delaware student—wed the 23-year-old Stevenson, a budding entrepreneur; their marriage dissolved in 1975 amid reportedly acrimonious circumstances.

Stevenson later founded the iconic Stone Balloon music venue in Newark, Delaware, in 1972, which hosted luminaries like Bruce Springsteen in marathon 1974 sets and became a cornerstone of East Coast rock lore before its closure—chronicled in his memoir, The Stone Balloon: The Early Years.

Linda, a devoted bookkeeper, mother, grandmother, and ardent Philadelphia Eagles supporter, was eulogized in her obituary as family-centric, omitting any spousal reference.

Jill Biden's office issued a terse emailed statement declining comment, as her 1977 marriage to then-Senator Joe Biden ushered her into national prominence; Joe served as president from 2021 to 2025. It remains unclear whether Stevenson has retained counsel, with arraignment proceedings pending amid intensifying scrutiny.

This grim episode reverberates through Delaware's legal corridors, intertwining personal tragedy with echoes of political legacy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar