The shocking arrest of William “Bill” Stevenson, the ex-husband of former First Lady Jill Biden, on first-degree murder charges has sent ripples through Delaware and beyond, highlighting yet another tragic chapter tied to the Biden orbit.
On Monday, February 2, 2026, New Castle County Police announced that a grand jury had indicted the 77-year-old Stevenson for the alleged intentional killing of his wife, Linda Stevenson, 64. The charges stem from an incident on December 28, when officers responded to a domestic dispute call at the couple’s home in the Oak Hill community near Elsmere, just outside Wilmington. They found Linda unresponsive in the living room. Despite frantic life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy was conducted, though authorities have not yet publicly released the exact cause of death—leaving many questions unanswered as the investigation unfolded over weeks.
Stevenson, once a prominent local businessman who ran the legendary Stone Balloon bar near the University of Delaware—a hotspot that hosted icons like Bruce Springsteen—was taken into custody without incident following the indictment. He’s now detained at Howard Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, unable to post the steep $500,000 cash bail. The case underscores a grim reality: what began as a reported domestic call ended in a murder charge after an “extensive weeks-long investigation.”
For those who remember happier times, the irony is stark. In a 2020 Inside Edition interview, Bill and Linda appeared the picture of a devoted couple, reminiscing about how they met decades earlier. Bill described spotting Linda across a bar, introduced by a mutual friend, and never looking back. “From that day on we have never been apart,” he said warmly, while Linda smiled, holding his hand and calling him “very persistent.” It painted a portrait of enduring romance—now shattered by these grave accusations.
Linda, a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan, mother to daughter Christina Vettori, grandmother, and sister, was remembered in her obituary for her strength, resilience, and deep love for family and friends. Her recent venture into bookkeeping spoke to her independence and work ethic. Her sudden loss has left a void felt far beyond her immediate circle.
Stevenson’s connection to the Bidens adds another layer to this disturbing story. He was married to Jill Biden from 1970 to 1975, when she was just 18 and he 23—a college football player turned entrepreneur. Their divorce came amid his claims, years later, that Jill had begun an affair with then-Senator Joe Biden before the split. The Bidens have long maintained they first met on a blind date in 1975, after Joe’s tragic loss of his first wife and daughter in a 1972 car crash. Stevenson even alleged he and Jill worked together on Joe’s initial Senate campaign, growing close to the future president.
Whatever the truth of those long-ago events, the Bidens’ representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this latest development. The focus now rightly remains on justice for Linda Stevenson and the facts emerging from the courtroom.
This case serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of domestic peace and the importance of holding individuals accountable, regardless of past connections or public profiles. As proceedings move forward, the people of Delaware—and Americans watching—deserve full transparency and swift resolution. For Linda’s family, nothing can replace what’s been lost, but accountability must prevail.
