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Authorities have charged a 77-year-old man with the murder of his newlywed wife last December.
WASHINGTON — A Delaware grand jury has indicted William Stevenson, the former spouse of ex-first lady Jill Biden, on a first-degree murder charge related to the death of his second wife, officials confirmed.
The indictment concerns the demise of 64-year-old Linda Stevenson, who was discovered unresponsive at their New Castle County residence late last year.
Police had initially responded to a domestic disturbance report on December 28 at a home in the Oak Hill area near Elsmere, Delaware. Upon arrival, Linda Stevenson was declared dead at the scene.
Although no immediate charges were pressed, a comprehensive investigation by law enforcement led to the grand jury’s indictment on Monday, February 2, as reported by NBC News. Subsequently, William Stevenson was apprehended.
New Castle County police have not released details about how Linda Stevenson died.
William Stevenson has been charged with one felony count of first-degree murder. Police said he was arraigned and placed in custody at the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $500,000 cash bail. It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney.
Linda Stevenson was a mother and grandmother who had recently founded a bookkeeping business, BMB Bookkeeping. She was described in her obituary as “tenacious, kind-hearted, and fiercely loyal,” and as a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan. Her husband was not mentioned in the obituary, CBS News reported.
William Stevenson was previously married to Jill Biden in the early 1970s. The two met in Ocean City, New Jersey, married in 1970 and divorced in 1975, according to NBC News.
Stevenson later became the owner of The Stone Balloon, a well-known music venue near the University of Delaware that hosted major rock acts over the years.