William “Bill” Stevenson, the former husband of Jill Biden, is facing charges in connection to the tragic death of his wife, Linda Stevenson. This development follows a detailed investigation by the New Castle County Division of Police, which culminated in his arrest this past Monday. The 77-year-old Stevenson, who had once praised his spouse as “the greatest thing in my life,” now stands accused of a grave crime.

Authorities were called to the couple’s residence in Delaware on December 28, 2025, responding to an emergency report of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers discovered Linda Stevenson, 64, unresponsive. Tragically, she was declared dead at the scene, though the specific cause of her death remains undisclosed at this time. The case has drawn considerable attention, given Stevenson’s past connection to the former first lady.

Stevenson, who was Jill Biden’s first husband, is currently being detained with bail set at $500,000. The couple shared nearly four decades of marriage, a fact noted in court documents reviewed by PEOPLE. This long-standing relationship makes the allegations all the more shocking and poignant, as they navigate the unfolding legal process.

William Stevenson, the first husband of former first lady Jill Biden, has been charged with killing his wife at their Delaware home in late December. (New Castle County Police via AP; AP Photo/Mingson Lau)

She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her cause of death has not been revealed. Stevenson is being held in jail on $500,000 bail. 

The couple were married for nearly 40 years, according to an indictment obtained by PEOPLE. 

Stevenson married Biden in 1970 when she was an 18-year-old University of Delaware student and he was 23. The nuptials lasted five years before they divorced. 

Stevenson remained a critic of his ex-wife, but said he wasn’t “bitter” about the way things ended. 

“I’m not bitter because, if it wasn’t for my divorce, I would never have met my wife Linda and she’s the greatest thing in my life,” Bill told the Daily Mail in a 2020 interview. 

Jill Biden speaks during a reception in the East Room of the White House on December 2, 2024 in Washington, D,C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Bill has claimed Jill and former President Joe Biden had an affair before she was divorced, and that Bill introduced the pair in 1972. The Bidens have denied the affair allegations.

In a Facebook post, Linda’s daughter Christine Vettori described her mom as her best friend, saying the pair talked nearly every day and ate dinner together every Friday. 

“The pain of losing her is paralyzing and the emptiness in my heart is an abyss,” she wrote. “Most days I can barely breathe.”

Vettori noted that her mother had her at a young age.

The home of William Stevenson, the ex-husband of former first lady Jill Biden, is shown in Wilmington, Del., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Stevenson has been charged in the killing his current wife at the home. (AP Photo/Mingson Lau) (AP Photo/Mingson Lau)

“In a lot of ways, we grew up together,” she wrote. “We both were raised by a village of incredibly strong women, lead by love and determination to be the best examples of motherhood they knew.”

“Together we will honor her memory by seeking justice for her murder and never letting her legacy to be overshadowed by her murderer,” she added.