Jill Biden's Comments on Her Divorce from Bill Stevenson, Who Is Charged in Connection with the Death of His Wife

The former U.S. first lady's past reflections on her divorce have resurfaced following criminal charges against her former spouse in connection with the death of his wife.

Authorities have charged a man once married to Jill Biden in a homicide case in Delaware. The charge has brought renewed attention to a marriage that ended decades ago and remained largely outside public view.

Jill later described that relationship in published reflections written long before the current investigation, providing personal context as the case moves through the courts.

Charge Filed in Wife's Death

William "Bill" Stevenson, Jill's ex-husband, has been charged with murder in the death of his wife, Linda Stevenson, authorities said.

Linda, 64, was found unresponsive inside the couple's home in New Castle County, Delaware, in December last year, according to reporting by CNN. Police said officers were dispatched to the residence following a call reporting a domestic dispute.

Authorities have not released details about Linda's cause or manner of death, and investigators have not disclosed additional information about the evidence supporting the charge.

William, 77, was arraigned on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and is being held at Howard Young Correctional Institution on a $500,000 bond.

It remains unclear whether William reportedly has legal representation. The post-presidential office of the ex-U.S. president declined to comment on William's arrest and the charges against him.

Years before the investigation, William's ex-wife had already documented her own perspective on the marriage.

What Is Known About Jill and William's Union

According to TMZ, Jill married William in February 1970 while she was a student at the University of Delaware. In 1972, Stevenson opened The Stone Balloon, a bar near the university campus that later became popular with students.

The couple separated in 1974 and went through a contentious divorce. During the proceedings, Jill sought half ownership of the bar but was unsuccessful.

Jill later wrote about the marriage in her 2019 memoir, "Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself."

In the book, she described the end of the relationship as a gradual realization that it was no longer sustainable, 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 toll of divorce at the time:

"I'm not sure if I knew anyone who was divorced back then. The very idea horrified me. It meant failure, and in my still-young life, I had never failed at anything serious. I had let down my parents—especially my dad. I had let down myself. I felt ugly and inadequate; I was embarrassed and ashamed."

After the divorce, Jill wrote that she chose not to return to her parents' home. Instead, she moved to Pennsylvania, focused on completing her education, and lived independently.

The union ended in 1975, years before Jill entered national public life. Later, she reportedly married then-Senator Joe Biden in 1977, leaving her early years with Bill largely unspoken in public.

Those personal reflections stand apart from the events that later led authorities to investigate the death of Linda, as detailed in earlier reporting.

Linda's body was discovered on the living room floor of the couple's home in the Oak Hill area of New Castle County on December 28, 2025.

The incident followed what has been described as a domestic dispute. Despite desperate life-saving efforts, Linda was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

Autopsy Ordered as Criminal Unit Takes Over

Police responded to the scene around 11:15 p.m., but were unable to revive her. The case was swiftly transferred to the Division's Criminal Investigations Unit, raising immediate questions — and suspicions — about what really happened inside that home.

Though no charges were filed at the time, dispatch audio obtained by TMZ referenced cardiac arrest as the cause. Linda's body was handed over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science for an autopsy to determine her official cause of death.

Obituary Sparks Shock by Leaving Out Husband's Name

Two weeks after Linda's sudden death, her January 13 obituary emerged, and its glaring omission drew attention. Nowhere in the touching tribute was there any mention of her husband Bill. Not a name. Not a word. Nothing to acknowledge the man with whom she had shared years of her life.

Instead, the obituary focused squarely on Linda's legacy. Her daughter, granddaughter, sister, and her tenacious spirit as the founder of BMB Bookkeeping, a small business she ran with "determination, integrity, and heart."

She was described as "kind-hearted" and "tenacious," with a fierce love for the Philadelphia Eagles and a soft spot for the friendships she built at a local Outback Steakhouse — a surprising detail that painted a picture of a woman who found joy in life's simplest moments. But the silence around her husband? Deafening.

A Quiet Past That Casts a Long Shadow

As whispers grow louder around the nature of Linda's death, public curiosity has drifted — inevitably — to her husband's infamous past. Jill has long kept her marriage to Bill at arm's length, offering only brief, guarded reflections.

"I believed so much in the institution of marriage," Jill once said in an interview from the White House. "When the marriage fell apart, I fell hard because of that."

Journalist Julie Pace, who co-authored a biography of the former First Lady, said Jill had high hopes for the union — only to be left reeling when Bill dropped out of school and, eventually, the marriage. "She had these expectations of what that marriage was going to be," Julie revealed. "The marriage did not live up to those expectations."

The pain, Jill admitted, cut deep. "It really stings her," Julie added. "And it makes her question quite a bit." But even amid heartbreak, Jill forged ahead. "This was a failure, and I'm really pretty devastated about it," the biographer noted, "but I'm going to compartmentalize that, and I'm going to move on."

Internet Reacts With Shock and Sorrow

As the investigation into Linda's mysterious death continues, the public's reaction was swift — and somber. "Oh no," one person wrote under a headline about the story. "Yikes, heavy news. Hope the situation is handled," added another, referencing the unresolved criminal investigation. Others kept it simple, "R.I.P."

The case remains open, and for now, the truth is buried beneath official reports and closed doors. But as the world watches — and as new questions swirl around the Stevensons — one thing is certain: Linda's memory will not be forgotten, even if her death leaves more questions than answers.