Former Owner of Stone Balloon Bar Charged with Killing Wife Linda Stevenson

The arrest of Bill Stevenson, a longtime figure in Newark, Delaware, has brought renewed attention to a case that initially unfolded quietly in late December. Stevenson, 77, best known as the former owner and founder of the iconic Stone Balloon bar, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Linda Stevenson, following a weeks-long investigation by New Castle County Police.

The charge stems from events that occurred inside the couple’s Oak Hill home, where officers first responded to a domestic dispute call and later found Linda Stevenson unresponsive. The case, now before the courts, has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding her death while drawing public interest due to Stevenson’s prominent local profile and past associations.

Investigation Into Linda Stevenson’s Death

Linda, 64, died on Dec. 28 at the couple’s residence in the 1300 block of Idlewood Road in Oak Hill, a residential community near Elsmere. According to New Castle County Police, officers were dispatched to the home shortly after 11 a.m. in response to a reported domestic dispute. When they arrived, they found Linda Stevenson unresponsive in the living room.

Master Cpl. Richard Chambers, a spokesperson for the New Castle County Police Department, stated that officers immediately attempted life-saving measures. Despite those efforts, Linda Stevenson was pronounced dead later that day. At the time of the initial response, police did not make any arrests, and authorities released few details about what they found inside the home.

In the days and weeks that followed, detectives launched what police described as an extensive investigation into the circumstances of Linda Stevenson’s death. This process included gathering physical evidence, conducting interviews, and reviewing findings from medical and forensic examinations. Throughout this period, law enforcement maintained a limited public profile on the case, offering few updates while the investigation continued.

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On Monday, the case was presented to a grand jury. After reviewing the evidence gathered by investigators, the grand jury returned an indictment charging Bill Stevenson with first-degree murder. He was arrested at his home the same day and taken into custody. Stevenson was later jailed after failing to post $500,000 cash bail.

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Authorities have not released details regarding the alleged manner or cause of the killing, nor have they disclosed what specific evidence led to the indictment. Police officials have indicated that additional information may become public as the case proceeds through the judicial system.

Community Reaction and Linda Stevenson’s Life

Linda Stevenson’s death has resonated beyond the immediate legal proceedings, particularly through the portrait of her life shared by family members in her obituary. The obituary described her as deeply family-oriented, emphasizing her devotion to her loved ones and the importance she placed on spending time with them. Family vacations, especially those shared with her daughter and granddaughter, were highlighted as moments she particularly cherished.

Professionally, Linda Stevenson was the owner of a bookkeeping company, a role that reflected her independence and work ethic. Her family described her as tenacious, kind-hearted, and fiercely loyal, noting that her strength and resilience were defining characteristics. The obituary made no mention of her husband, focusing instead on her relationships with family and friends and the legacy she left behind.

Within the Newark and greater New Castle County communities, news of the charge against Bill Stevenson has prompted a mixture of shock and reflection. While the couple’s private life was largely out of public view, the seriousness of the charge has drawn attention to the case. For many, the delay between Linda Stevenson’s death and the filing of charges underscores the complexity of the investigation and the gravity of the decision to pursue a first-degree murder indictment.

Law enforcement officials have emphasized that the charge reflects the conclusions of the investigative process and the grand jury’s assessment of the evidence. As with all criminal cases, Stevenson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The legal proceedings ahead are expected to shed more light on the events that led to Linda Stevenson’s death and the factors that informed the grand jury’s decision.

Bill Stevenson’s Public Profile and the Stone Balloon Legacy

Bill Stevenson’s name has long been familiar in Newark, largely due to his role in founding the Stone Balloon bar, a venue that became a cultural landmark in the city. Opened on Main Street in 1972, the Stone Balloon quickly established itself as a central gathering place for live music and nightlife, particularly within the college-town atmosphere surrounding the University of Delaware.

Over the years, the venue hosted performances by a number of prominent musicians and bands who would later achieve national and international recognition. Acts such as Bruce Springsteen, George Thorogood, Metallica, and the Dave Matthews Band were among those who played at the Stone Balloon, contributing to its reputation as an important stop on the live music circuit. For decades, the bar was closely associated with Newark’s cultural identity and nightlife scene.

Stevenson later sold the Stone Balloon, and the venue ultimately closed in 2005. The building that once housed the bar was redeveloped into the Washington House condominiums, marking the end of an era for many longtime residents and music fans. Despite its closure, the Stone Balloon’s legacy has remained part of local lore, with Stevenson frequently referenced as a key figure in its history.

Beyond his business ventures, Stevenson has also been noted in public records for his earlier marriage to Jill Biden, now the first lady of the United States. The two were married from 1970 to 1975, years before Biden’s marriage to President Joe Biden and her emergence on the national political stage. While that chapter of Stevenson’s life predates the events now under investigation by decades, it has added another dimension of public interest to the case.

As the legal process moves forward, Bill Stevenson’s past as a businessman and community figure stands in stark contrast to the serious criminal charge he now faces. The case has shifted public focus from his role in Newark’s entertainment history to the unresolved questions surrounding Linda Stevenson’s death. Court proceedings in the coming months are expected to determine how the evidence will be presented and what further details will emerge about the events of Dec. 28.