Jill Biden, the former First Lady of the United States, has long been known for her role in education and her supportive partnership with President Joe Biden. However, her personal history includes a lesser-known chapter from her early adulthood: her first marriage to Bill Stevenson, a man who would later become embroiled in public disputes and, more recently, serious legal troubles. Stevenson, a former college football player and bar owner, married Jill in 1970 when she was just 18 and still in college, marking the beginning of a union that lasted five years amid the turbulence of young adulthood.
The couple’s story gained renewed attention in late 2025 when Stevenson’s current wife, Linda Stevenson, was found dead following a domestic dispute call at their Delaware home. This incident not only revived old allegations from Stevenson about Jill Biden’s relationship with Joe Biden but also led to Stevenson’s arrest and charging with first-degree murder in early 2026, casting a shadow over his life and prompting widespread media scrutiny.
The Early Years and Divorce
Bill Stevenson met Jill Tracy Jacobs in the late 1960s while both were navigating their early twenties in Delaware. Stevenson, then 22, was an aspiring entrepreneur who owned the Stone Balloon, a popular music venue that hosted acts like Bruce Springsteen. They wed in February 1970 in a simple ceremony, with Jill balancing her studies at the University of Delaware. For a time, their life seemed idyllic, filled with the excitement of running a business and building a future together. However, cracks soon appeared as the pressures of youth, career ambitions, and personal growth strained their relationship.
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By 1975, the marriage had dissolved. In interviews over the years, Stevenson has claimed that Jill Biden’s affair with then-Senator Joe Biden contributed to the split. He alleged that he introduced the Bidens in 1972 during Joe’s Senate campaign, where Jill worked as a volunteer. According to Stevenson, the affair began while he and Jill were still married, a narrative he detailed in his 2020 book Jill and Joe’s Long Road to the White House: A Different Perspective.
The Bidens have consistently denied these claims, insisting they met on a blind date in 1975 after Jill Biden’s divorce was finalized. Jill has described the end of her first marriage as a painful but necessary step, emphasizing her focus on independence and education. Stevenson, meanwhile, moved on, remarrying and fathering children, including a daughter who has spoken publicly about family matters.
The Tragic Death of Linda Stevenson and Legal Proceedings
In a shocking turn of events on December 28, 2025, police responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic dispute at the Stevensons’ home in Wilmington, Delaware. Upon arrival, officers found 64-year-old Linda Stevenson unresponsive; she was later pronounced dead at the scene. Initial reports indicated no immediate signs of foul play, and no charges were filed at the time. Linda, who had been married to Bill for decades, was remembered by friends as a kind and private woman. Her obituary notably omitted any mention of her husband, fueling speculation about their relationship.
The investigation intensified over the following weeks, involving autopsies and forensic analysis by the Delaware Division of Forensic Science. On February 2, 2026, a New Castle County grand jury indicted 77-year-old Bill Stevenson on one count of first-degree murder, alleging he intentionally caused his wife’s death. He was arrested without incident and held on $500,000 cash bail at the Howard Young Correctional Institution.
Stevenson’s daughter described the case as a “murder investigation” in media statements, expressing grief and calling for justice. Authorities have released few details, citing the ongoing nature of the probe, but the charges have reignited interest in Stevenson’s past, including his criticisms of the Biden family. He had previously accused them of corruption and even supported Donald Trump politically.
As the legal process unfolds, this tragedy underscores the complex intersections of personal histories and public lives. For Jill Biden, now focused on her post-White House endeavors, it serves as a reminder of a distant past amid an unexpected present controversy.
