WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — William Stevenson, a 77-year-old man from Wilmington, Delaware, has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of his 64-year-old wife, Linda Stevenson. The incident took place on December 28, when police were called to their residence shortly after 11 p.m. due to a reported domestic dispute. Upon arrival, authorities found Linda unresponsive in the living room, and attempts to revive her were unsuccessful.
Stevenson's indictment comes after a weekslong investigation by detectives from the Delaware Department of Justice. He is currently being held in jail, unable to post the $500,000 bail. As of now, it is unclear if he has legal representation, as no defense attorney is listed in the public court records, and charging documents have yet to be released.
Linda Stevenson, who was known for running a bookkeeping business, was described in her obituary as a devoted mother, grandmother, and an enthusiastic fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. The obituary notably omits any mention of her husband, highlighting her independent identity. In a heartfelt statement, her daughter, Christine Mae, portrayed her mother as a passionate reader and dedicated runner, participating in monthly charity 5Ks together. Mae expressed her grief, stating that her mother's hugs could ease all worries and that the void left by her passing feels insurmountable.
Christine Mae also voiced her frustration about media coverage focusing on William Stevenson’s past relationship with former First Lady Jill Biden, rather than honoring her mother's life. She emphasized that Linda Stevenson "deserves her own story" and should not merely be referenced in relation to her husband's ex-wife.
William Stevenson was married to Jill Biden from 1970 to 1975, before she wed U.S. Senator Joe Biden in 1977. Joe Biden, who served as U.S. President from January 2021 to January 2025, has a spokesperson who stated that Jill Biden declined to comment on the ongoing murder case.
In the early 1970s, William Stevenson founded the Stone Balloon, a well-known music venue in Newark, Delaware. In her 2019 memoir, Jill Biden recounted their relationship, describing how they met while she was attending the University of Delaware. She was just 18 when they married, having fallen for the charm of a "tall ex-football player" who drove a yellow Camaro, a union her parents supported. Jill Biden reflected on their marriage as one that ultimately failed, noting it as "the biggest disappointment of my young life." She highlighted that the divorce taught her the significance of financial independence, a lesson she later imparted to her daughters and students.
Despite their past, in a 2024 interview with Newsmax, Stevenson seemed to harbor resentment towards Jill Biden, describing their divorce as contentious and characterizing her as "bitter" and "nasty." This tumultuous history is now overshadowed by the gravity of the current charges against him.
The legal proceedings surrounding William Stevenson’s indictment remain ongoing, with no clear motive disclosed by investigators. The community’s reaction has been marked by a sense of tragedy, as people continue to process the circumstances surrounding Linda Stevenson’s untimely death and how her life is being framed in the media amid the sensationalism of her husband's past.
