William "Bill" Stevenson III, 77, is a Delaware entrepreneur, former nightclub owner, inventor, and athlete best known as the founder of the legendary Stone Balloon Tavern and Concert Hall. He was married to Jill Biden from 1970 to 1975 before she married Joe Biden. On February 3, 2026, he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his second wife, Linda Stevenson.
You're searching for Bill Stevenson because breaking news connects him to a criminal investigation while his past connection to the Biden family draws attention. This article explains his full life story from college athlete to successful businessman to facing criminal charges.
Early Life and Education
Bill Stevenson was born in 1948 and grew up in Pennsylvania. He developed a passion for music and sports during his formative years. These two interests would shape his entire adult life and career path.
In 1968, Stevenson left Pennsylvania to attend the University of Delaware. He played college football for the Blue Hens, showcasing athletic abilities developed during his youth. His time as a football player built the physical strength he later demonstrated as a gold medal shot putter.
While studying at the University of Delaware, Stevenson met Jill Tracy Jacobs. They first encountered each other in Ocean City, New Jersey in 1969. The beach meeting led to a romantic relationship. Jill was a high school student at the time, while Stevenson was a college athlete.
The Woodstock Experience
Bill Stevenson attended the Woodstock Music Festival in August 1969. This experience proved transformative for the young college student. The festival featured performances by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, and dozens of other legendary acts.
Woodstock inspired Stevenson to pursue a career in the music industry. The festival showed him the power of live music to bring people together and create cultural moments. He witnessed history being made over three days in upstate New York. This inspiration led directly to his decision to open a music venue.
Marriage to Jill Biden
Bill and Jill married in February 1970. She was 18 years old and a University of Delaware student. He was 23 and pursuing his entrepreneurial ambitions. The couple worked together to build the Stone Balloon after its opening in 1972.
Key facts about their marriage:
- Met in Ocean City, New Jersey in 1969
- Married February 1970 when Jill was 18
- Collaborated on Stone Balloon operations 1972-1974
- Separated in 1974 after four years of marriage
- Divorce finalized May 1975
During divorce proceedings, Jill petitioned for half-ownership of the Stone Balloon. The court denied her claim. The venue remained under Bill's ownership and control. Financial disputes during the divorce created lasting tensions between the former couple.
The Courier Company Foundation
In 1969, while still a college student, Stevenson founded a courier company. This business predated the Stone Balloon by three years. The courier service provided package and document delivery throughout Delaware.
Stevenson operated this courier company for decades. He continued running the business even during his Stone Balloon years. The company gave him steady income while the music venue's profitability fluctuated with seasonal student attendance and touring band availability.
According to Cedar Tree Books, which published his memoir, Stevenson was still operating the courier company as of publication in the 2000s. This demonstrates his ability to maintain multiple business ventures simultaneously over many years.
The Stone Balloon Era
Stevenson purchased a rundown Main Street tavern in Newark, Delaware in 1971. He opened The Stone Balloon Tavern and Concert Hall in February 1972. The venue quickly gained reputation as one of the premier college bars in America.
Major milestones at the Stone Balloon:
- Bruce Springsteen performed in August 1974 during his rise to fame
- Playboy magazine named it one of top 100 college bars
- Rolling Stone called it "the best kept secret in Rock and Roll"
- Hosted over 300 major national acts including Metallica, Dave Matthews Band, Ray Charles
- MTV broadcast live from the venue in the early 1980s
Financial troubles forced Stevenson to sell the Stone Balloon to investors in the mid-1980s. He ran the venue for approximately 13 years from 1972 to the mid-1980s. Those years established his reputation in Delaware's entertainment scene and rock and roll history.
SuperStake Invention and Patent
After leaving the music business, Stevenson turned his attention to horticulture. He founded a horticultural company and developed innovative products for gardeners. His most successful invention was the SuperStake plant support system.
The SuperStake consists of:
- Rods made from recycled plastic replacing wooden stakes
- Base system placed in bottom of plant pots
- Design allows for aeration and drainage of soil
- Removable assembly for easy repotting
In March 2010, Stevenson received a U.S. utility patent for SuperStake. He was 62 years old when the patent was awarded. The News Journal quoted him saying "A good idea only comes along once or twice in a lifetime. This is my second great idea." His first great idea was the Stone Balloon.
SuperStake products became available at Richardson's Garden Center, Ronny's Garden World, and All About the Garden in Delaware. Stevenson sold the SuperStake patent and product line to Scotts Miracle-Gro, one of the largest lawn and garden products companies in the world. This sale represented a significant financial success for the inventor.
Senior Olympics Athletic Success
Stevenson competed in the National Senior Games as a shot putter. His college football background gave him the strength and technique needed for track and field throwing events.
Athletic achievements:
- Won gold medal in 50-54 age group
- Won gold medal in 55-59 age group
- Competed successfully over six years
- Demonstrated athletic longevity into senior years
His success in Senior Olympics demonstrated physical fitness and competitive spirit well into his 50s. The shot put requires explosive power and technical skill, both of which Stevenson maintained decades after his college football career ended.
Author and Delaware Icon
Stevenson wrote "The Stone Balloon Story: The Early Years" documenting his experiences opening and operating the legendary music venue. Cedar Tree Books published the memoir. The book explains why he left Pennsylvania in 1968, his University of Delaware football career, and how he came to buy the Main Street tavern.
In 2012, Delaware Today Magazine named Stevenson one of The 50 Most Influential Delawareans of the Past 50 Years. This honor recognized his contributions to Delaware's entertainment scene and cultural history. Few nightclub owners receive such lasting recognition.
In 2018, Stevenson was inducted into the Delaware Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony celebrated his role in bringing major rock acts to Delaware and supporting emerging artists throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Political Views and Biden Support
Stevenson describes himself as a liberal Republican. Despite his claims about the Biden marriage and public criticism of Jill Biden in 2024, he voted for Barack Obama and Joe Biden in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.
His political involvement dates back to the early 1970s. Stevenson claims he held a fundraiser for Joe Biden's 1972 Senate campaign at the Stone Balloon. He stated he donated $10,900 to Biden's first campaign. He also claimed he asked County Councilman Biden for help obtaining a liquor license for the Stone Balloon.
In 1972, Stevenson initially supported Republican Caleb Boggs for Senate. He had a disagreement with Boggs over corruption in Delaware. According to Stevenson, Boggs told him "Get out of my office. Go work for that joke Biden." This incident led Stevenson to support the young Democrat who would go on to win the Senate seat.
Marriage to Linda and Family Life
After his 1975 divorce from Jill Biden, Bill married Linda nearly 40 years ago. They built a life together in Wilmington, Delaware. The couple shared their home with his daughter Christina (and her husband Jeremy) and his granddaughter Ciara.
Stevenson embraced his role as grandfather. He told Delaware Today his granddaughter offered him $10 to help fund his SuperStake invention, showing the close family relationship. Multiple generations lived together under one roof, creating a traditional multi-generational household.
Linda founded BMB Bookkeeping within the last five years of her life. She worked alongside Bill while he pursued his horticultural business ventures. The couple appeared to have a stable marriage spanning nearly four decades before Linda's death in December 2025.
Current Criminal Case
Police found Linda Stevenson dead in their Oak Hill home on December 28, 2025 after responding to a domestic dispute call around 11:15 p.m. She was 64 years old. Officers attempted life-saving measures but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The New Castle County Police Division's Criminal Investigations Unit conducted a month-long investigation. On February 3, 2026, a grand jury indicted Bill Stevenson on one count of first-degree murder. He was arrested without incident at his home.
Stevenson failed to post $500,000 cash bail. He remains incarcerated at Howard Young Correctional Institution. Public records do not indicate whether he has retained an attorney. The case will proceed through Delaware's criminal court system.
First-degree murder in Delaware requires proof of willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment without possibility of parole since Delaware abolished the death penalty in 2016.
Legacy and Impact
Before the current criminal charges, Bill Stevenson's legacy in Delaware centered on cultural contributions rather than political connections. The Stone Balloon influenced an entire generation of Delaware music fans. The venue provided opportunities for emerging artists and brought legendary performers to a college town.
His entrepreneurial success spanned multiple industries:
- Courier services starting in 1969
- Music venue operations 1972-1985
- Horticultural innovation with SuperStake
- Author sharing Delaware music history
The murder charge against Stevenson complicates how Delaware residents remember his contributions. The Stone Balloon's cultural significance remains separate from the criminal case, but public perception of the venue's founder has shifted dramatically.
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