Inside the Night That Led to Murder Charges Against Jill Biden’s Ex-Husband
A late-night emergency call. A woman found unresponsive. And now, more than a month later, a first-degree murder charge that has cast new light on what happened inside a Delaware home.
On the night of December 28, 2025, police were dispatched to a residence in Oak Hill, Delaware, connected to Bill Stevenson, the former husband of former First Lady Jill Biden, following reports of a domestic dispute. At the time, authorities released few details. Today, with Stevenson formally charged in connection with the death of his wife, Linda Stevenson, investigators are reexamining the events of that night through a far more serious lens.
A 911 Call and a Grim Discovery
Just after 11:15 p.m., emergency dispatchers received a call reporting a disturbance at the home. Police and medical responders were immediately sent to the scene.
When officers from the New Castle County Police Department entered the residence, they went directly to the living room, where they found Linda Stevenson lying unresponsive. Despite attempts to administer life-saving measures, she was pronounced dead at the scene. She was 64 years old.
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In the hours that followed, the neighborhood filled with flashing lights as investigators began securing the home and documenting the scene.
Dispatch Audio Later Released
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Days later, a portion of emergency dispatch audio was released by TMZ. While much of the recording was redacted, one line was clearly audible:
“Station 16, C14, medic 7, redirect, cardiac arrest, 2337.”
At the time, the words appeared procedural. In hindsight, they marked the first official indication that the situation inside the home had taken a critical turn.
Investigation Deepens
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Initially, police confirmed that no charges had been filed. However, detectives soon determined the case warranted further scrutiny.
The Criminal Investigations Unit took over the investigation, and Linda Stevenson’s body was transported to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science for an autopsy. Authorities described the case as active and ongoing, offering few details publicly.
More than a month later, that investigation culminated in a significant development.
Murder Charge Filed
Bill Stevenson, 77, was formally charged with first-degree murder and arraigned on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. He is currently being held at Howard Young Correctional Institution on a $500,000 bond.
Authorities have not publicly released information regarding Linda Stevenson’s cause or manner of death, nor have they disclosed the evidence that led to the charge. It is also unclear whether Stevenson has retained legal counsel.
The office of the former U.S. president declined to comment on the arrest.
A Figure From Jill Biden’s Past
Bill Stevenson was married to Jill Biden in the early 1970s, before her national prominence. At the time, she was a student at the University of Delaware, and the couple became part of the campus social scene.
During their marriage, Stevenson opened The Stone Balloon, a bar near campus that became a popular gathering place. The business later became a point of contention during their divorce, which Jill Biden has described as emotionally difficult.
She later married Joe Biden in 1977, while he was serving as a U.S. senator from Delaware.
Jill Biden’s Reflections on Their Marriage
Years before the current investigation, Jill Biden reflected on her first marriage in her 2019 memoir, Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself.
She described gradually realizing the relationship could not be repaired, writing, “Before long, I began to see that the breaks were beyond repair. I wouldn’t settle for a counterfeit love.”
She also detailed the emotional weight of divorce at the time, calling it a source of shame and self-doubt in her young life. Following the separation, she moved to Pennsylvania, focused on completing her education, and began rebuilding independently.
Case Remains Ongoing
As of now, many questions remain unanswered. Investigators have not released further details, and the legal process is still in its early stages.
What is clear is that a late-night emergency call has now become the center of a high-profile criminal case — one still unfolding as authorities continue their work.