William Stevenson, Jill Biden’s ex-husband, indicted on first-degree murder charge

A grand jury in New Castle County returned an indictment charging 77-year-old William Stevenson with one felony count of first-degree murder in the death of his 64-year-old wife, Linda Stevenson. The indictment alleges "he intentionally caused her death." Prosecutors moved the case after what police described as an extensive investigation, and Stevenson was taken into custody the day the grand jury acted.

Police say officers responded to a reported domestic dispute at the Stevensons' New Castle County residence on Dec. 28. Responders found Linda Stevenson unresponsive in the living room and she was later pronounced dead at the scene. "New Castle County police have not released details about how Linda Stevenson died," authorities said, and investigators turned Linda Stevenson’s body over to the state forensic lab for further study. "They said they were conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death."

Investigators characterized their follow-up work as prolonged. "Stevenson was arrested following an 'extensive weeks-long investigation,' police said." The grand jury returned its finding on Monday, Feb. 2, and Stevenson was arraigned and placed in custody at the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $500,000 cash bail. He remains jailed while no public record indicates whether he has retained counsel.

Linda Stevenson was described in her obituary as a mother and grandmother who had recently founded a bookkeeping business. The obituary added, "Her strength, resilience, and unwavering love for her family and friends will never be forgotten, and her absence will be felt deeply by all who knew her." Survivors listed include a daughter, a granddaughter, and a sister.

William Stevenson is known locally as the former husband of Jill Biden; the two were married from 1970 until their divorce in May 1975. He has been described in public records as a businessman who owned the Stone Balloon college bar near the University of Delaware and as a former college football player. Those biographical details will likely be checked by defense and prosecution as the case proceeds.

Community relevance is immediate: a homicide charge involving local residents raises questions about public safety, investigative transparency, and the timetable for criminal proceedings. The critical items for public record remain the autopsy results, the charging document that lays out the alleged facts, and upcoming court dates that will set the pace for evidence review.

What comes next is procedural but consequential: prosecutors must produce the indictment and associated documents to support the first-degree murder charge, the autopsy findings will be central to cause-of-death determinations, and court dockets will show any pretrial schedule. Local residents and those following the case should watch for official statements from law enforcement and the release of court filings to clarify how prosecutors plan to proceed.