The Delaware police announced on Tuesday (February 3rd) that William Stevenson, the ex-husband of former First Lady Jill Biden, has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. According to a statement released by the New Castle County Police Department on their official website, the 77-year-old William Stevenson was apprehended on Monday (February 2nd) for the alleged murder of his current wife, 64-year-old Linda Stevenson.
Fox News reported on Tuesday that the New Castle County Superior Court had previously charged William Stevenson with first-degree murder. Law enforcement officers later arrested him at his residence on Idlewood Road in the 1300 block.
During the arrest, Stevenson did not resist. Due to failure to post a $500,000 bail, he was taken to the Howard Young Correctional Institution for detention. It is currently unclear whether he has hired a lawyer.
The incident took place on December 28, 2025. Upon receiving a report of a domestic dispute, police rushed to a residence in the Wilmington area and found Linda Stevenson lying unconscious in the living room.
Despite efforts to administer life-saving measures at the scene, Stevenson was pronounced dead. Her body was then transferred to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science for an autopsy. The police did not disclose the specific cause of her death in the statement released on Tuesday.
Authorities noted that the charges stemmed from a “weeks-long extensive investigation” into Linda Stevenson’s death.
Fox News reached out to former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden’s office, but they did not immediately respond.
William Stevenson and Jill Biden got married in February 1970 when Jill, then known as Jill Tracy Jacobs, was 18 years old attending the University of Delaware, while William Stevenson was 23. The couple divorced five years later.
In March 1975, Jill met then-Delaware Senator Joe Biden. In May of the same year, Jill finalized her divorce from William Stevenson.
Shortly before the divorce, William Stevenson founded the bar “The Stone Balloon Club” near the University of Delaware in Newark. The club later became one of the most popular college bars in the United States. Jill Biden tried to retain half ownership of the club but was denied.
Authorities emphasized that the case is still under investigation, and only the charging information has been made public. Stevenson, who is in custody, is awaiting further court proceedings.