Summary (tl;dr)

William Stevenson, the first husband of former First Lady Jill Biden, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his current wife, Linda Stevenson, following a domestic incident in December 2025.

Essential Background

Jill Biden was married to William Stevenson from 1970 to 1975. Following their divorce, she married Joe Biden in 1977. In previous years, Stevenson made claims that Jill Biden and Joe Biden's relationship began while she was still married to him, allegations which Jill Biden has denied, stating they are "fictitious" and intended to promote a book.

The Full Story

William Stevenson, 77, was arrested on Monday, February 2, 2026, and subsequently charged with one felony count of first-degree murder. This arrest follows a police investigation initiated after officers responded to a reported domestic dispute at his home in Oak Hill, Wilmington, Delaware, on December 28, 2025. Upon arrival, Linda Stevenson, 64, was found unresponsive in the living room and was later pronounced dead at the scene. A grand jury in New Castle County, Delaware, returned an indictment against Stevenson. He is currently being held at the Howard Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington after failing to post a $500,000 cash bail. Further details regarding the cause of Linda Stevenson's death have not yet been publicly released.

Why It Matters

The charging of William Stevenson with murder has drawn significant public attention due to his past marriage to former First Lady Jill Biden. The high-profile nature of the individuals involved, particularly the connection to the Biden family, makes this a nationally trending news story, reigniting interest in details surrounding Jill Biden's first marriage and previous claims made by Stevenson.

Geographic Location

• Oak Hill, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, United States (location of domestic dispute and arrest of William Stevenson)
• New Castle County, Delaware, United States (location of grand jury indictment)
• Howard Young Correctional Institution, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, United States (William Stevenson's booking and detention)