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Jill Biden's First Husband Charged with 1977 Murder

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2026/02/2 .. en-s-first-husband-charged-with-1977-murder.html
  Published in House and Home on Thursday, February 26th 2026 at 2:20 GMT by Toronto Star
      Locales: Delaware, UNITED STATES

Wilmington, Delaware - February 26, 2026 - A chilling cold case has broken open, sending shockwaves through the nation as Steven Borum, the first husband of First Lady Jill Biden, has been formally charged with the murder of his then-wife, Jill Jacobs, in 1977. The arrest, made in Florida earlier this week, brings a somber closure to a nearly half-century-old mystery and thrusts a deeply personal tragedy from the Biden family's past into the national spotlight.

Borum, 59, now faces a murder charge stemming from the death of Jacobs, who was just 29 years old when she was discovered stabbed to death in their Wilmington, Delaware, home on June 14, 1977. For decades, the case remained unsolved, a painful ghost in the background of Jill Biden's life. The Delaware State Police announced the arrest Thursday, detailing a painstaking cold case investigation that leveraged advancements in forensic science to revisit the evidence and ultimately identify Borum as the prime suspect.

At the time of Jacobs' death, Borum told authorities he discovered her body upon returning from a business trip. This initial account formed the basis of the original investigation, which ultimately stalled due to lack of conclusive evidence. However, the Delaware State Police, under the leadership of Col. Daniel Wilson, reopened the case several years ago, driven by a commitment to providing closure for the Jacobs family and a belief that evolving forensic technologies could unlock new leads.

"This was a complex and challenging investigation, spanning decades," Col. Wilson stated during a press conference. "Through tireless work, meticulous re-examination of the crime scene details, and the utilization of new forensic analysis and technology - including DNA analysis and advanced trace evidence examination - we were able to develop sufficient evidence to bring charges against Mr. Borum."

The specific details of the 'new evidence' remain tightly guarded by law enforcement officials, as the case is actively being prepared for prosecution. Sources close to the investigation suggest the focus shifted to discrepancies in Borum's original statements and the identification of previously overlooked physical evidence. The advancements in DNA technology allowed investigators to re-examine evidence collected at the scene with a much higher degree of accuracy and sensitivity than was available in the 1970s.

Jill Biden, who had separated from Borum before the tragic incident and later remarried to Joe Biden, issued a brief but heartfelt statement through the White House. "My heart goes out to the Jacobs family," the statement read. "I have thought about their loss often over the years. I am thankful for the dedication of the Delaware State Police in bringing this case to justice." The First Lady has remained largely private regarding the events of 1977, understandable given the deeply personal nature of the tragedy.

Legal experts anticipate a protracted legal battle. Borum is currently held without bail in the Brevard County Jail in Florida and is awaiting extradition to Delaware. His defense team is expected to challenge the validity of the evidence presented by the prosecution, potentially arguing that the evidence was compromised over time or that the investigation was flawed. The prosecution, however, appears confident in the strength of its case, bolstered by the modern forensic techniques employed during the re-investigation.

The case raises broader questions about the persistence of cold case investigations and the increasing role of forensic science in bringing closure to decades-old crimes. The Delaware State Police's success in this instance serves as a beacon of hope for families who have long waited for justice in similar unresolved cases. It also highlights the importance of preserving evidence, even in seemingly unsolvable crimes, as future technological advancements may offer new avenues for investigation.

This case is a stark reminder that the past can cast a long shadow, even for those in the most prominent positions. The legal proceedings are expected to be closely watched, not only for the outcome of the case itself, but also for the impact on the Biden family and the lasting implications for cold case investigations across the country.