William "Bill" Stevenson, the first husband of former first lady Jill Biden, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of his current wife, Linda Stevenson.
The 77-year-old man was taken into custody without incident on February 2, 2026, at his home in the Wilmington area. He remains held at the Howard Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington after failing to post $500,000 cash bail.
Shortly after 11 p.m. on December 28, 2025, police arrived at the Stevensons' home for a domestic dispute. They found Linda Stevenson unresponsive in the living room. Paramedics could not revive her, and she was declared dead on the spot.
Detectives spent weeks investigating before taking their evidence to a grand jury, which indicted Stevenson on February 2, 2026. He was arrested that same day, accused of intentionally causing Linda Stevenson's death. Police have yet to reveal a motive or the exact cause of death.
Stevenson married Jill Biden in 1970, when she was just 18 and a student at the University of Delaware. He was 23. Their marriage lasted five years before ending in divorce in 1975. Two years later, Jill married Joe Biden.
Linda Stevenson was described in her obituary as kind-hearted and fiercely loyal, with an unwavering love for her family and friends. She and Bill had been married for nearly 40 years. Stevenson once called her "the greatest thing in my life" in past statements.
The investigation is ongoing. No further charges have been filed, and Stevenson has yet to enter a plea as of February 7, 2026.
Jill Biden has declined to comment through a spokesperson.