Bill Stevenson pleaded not guilty by Zoom on Feb. 17 to a first‑degree murder charge in the Dec. 28 death of his wife, Linda Stevenson. He remains in custody on $500,000 bail and his existing bail conditions were left unchanged. Police say Linda, 64, was found unresponsive after officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance in Oak Hill; she was later pronounced dead. The case was indicted on Feb. 2 and has been specially assigned to Judge Adams for scheduling.
Bill Stevenson Pleads Not Guilty to First‑Degree Murder Charge in Wife Linda Stevenson's Death
Jill Biden, William Stevenson, Linda Stevenson.Kevin Mazur/Getty; New Castle County Police; Legacy.com
Bill Stevenson, the former husband of Dr. Jill Biden, entered a plea of not guilty on Feb. 17 during a virtual arraignment on a first‑degree murder charge tied to the Dec. 28 death of his wife, Linda Stevenson.
Court Appearance
Stevenson, 77, appeared by Zoom for a New Castle County Superior Court proceeding in Delaware before Commissioner Lynne Parker. A grand jury indicted him on Feb. 2, alleging he "intentionally" caused Linda Stevenson’s death in December. During the arraignment, Stevenson’s attorney told the court:
Bill Stevenson mug shot.New Castle County Police
"Your Honor, we're going to enter a plea of not guilty. We're going to waive the reading of his charges, and we're going to request a speedy jury trial. His bail is already set."
Commissioner Parker ordered that Stevenson’s existing bail conditions remain unchanged and did not schedule additional dates. Authorities say he is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail and the matter has been specially assigned to Judge Adams for future scheduling. Stevenson spoke briefly on the Zoom call to confirm his plea and, when told the hearing was complete, replied, "Okay, cool."
Incident Details
New Castle County police say Linda Stevenson, 64, was found unresponsive at about 11:16 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2025, after officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance at a residence on Idlewood Road in the Oak Hill community. First responders provided life‑saving measures, but she was later pronounced dead, according to a police statement.
Bill Stevenson; Linda Stevenson.Newsmax; Legacy.com
Obituary And Public Questions
Linda’s obituary said she "passed away unexpectedly" at age 64 and listed survivors including her daughter, granddaughter, sister and other relatives. The obituary did not list her husband, which prompted questions from members of the public after it was published. A Facebook post asking why his name was omitted was later removed; it is unclear who deleted it.
Background
Bill Stevenson and Jill Biden met while attending the University of Delaware and married in 1970, when Jill was 18. The couple divorced five years later; Jill Biden later married Joe Biden, who became the 46th president of the United States in 2021. In interviews in later years, Stevenson spoke fondly of his wife Linda, calling her "the greatest thing in my life," and at times questioned aspects of the Bidens' account of his earlier relationship with Jill.
Case Status
The criminal case is ongoing. Stevenson was indicted on Feb. 2 and taken into custody without incident. Prosecutors will proceed under the indictment and Judge Adams will set future court dates.
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