NYC Model Arrested After Husband Found Stabbed to Death in Harlem Apartment
A high-profile homicide investigation is unfolding in New York City after personal trainer Jacob Zieben-Hood, 34, was found dead in his Harlem apartment on July 31. His estranged husband, 40-year-old model Donald Zieben-Hood, has been arrested and charged in connection with the case.
Police responded to a 911 call made by Donald around 4 a.m., reporting that he had discovered Jacob’s body. When officers arrived, they found Jacob slumped over the toilet in his bathroom with multiple stab wounds to the back of his leg and a large gash to his head. Prosecutors say the case is being treated as a homicide pending autopsy results.
Donald, who was sitting on the couch when officers entered, had visible injuries, including a black eye, cuts, and bite marks. He told police the injuries were inflicted by Jacob. Hours earlier, however, Jacob had reportedly called his father from inside the bathroom, claiming Donald was at the apartment and preventing him from leaving. The father told investigators he could hear Donald yelling insults in the background.
Court records show this was not the first incident of alleged violence between the two men. Prosecutors say Donald has been the subject of nine domestic incident reports since 2022. In June, he was arrested and charged with criminal contempt and menacing after allegedly pointing a knife at Jacob and threatening to attack him.
The escalating tensions led New York County Criminal Court to issue a protective order in November 2024, prohibiting Donald from contacting Jacob and ordering him to stay away. That order was reportedly violated in February 2025, when Jacob accused Donald of attacking him. Donald was arrested and charged with several counts, including strangulation. He pleaded not guilty, and the case remains pending.
A second protective order was issued in April 2025, but prosecutors allege Donald again violated it by entering Jacob’s Harlem apartment in July. This time, they say, the encounter turned deadly.
Friends of Jacob have spoken out about their concerns regarding the relationship. Many said they noticed troubling changes as early as 2015, when the couple began dating. Jonathan Starkey, a friend, told NBC News that Donald seemed “possessive and jealous” and that Jacob’s social circle began to shrink. “He kind of restricted who Jacob was in touch with,” Starkey recalled.
Another friend, Joshua Baker, was so alarmed that he reached out to Jacob via Facebook, only to receive a response from Donald, who claimed Jacob was “breaking away from his past” — a move that included cutting ties with close friends.
Over the years, friends kept tabs on the couple through social media, where posts often depicted travel and happy moments. But those images masked a darker reality, according to prosecutors, who allege a pattern of coercive control, verbal abuse, and escalating violence.
Jacob’s death has left friends and family in shock and grief. Marti G. Cummings, another friend, expressed regret. “I wish I had done more, but in hindsight, what would you do?”
Donald Zieben-Hood is currently being held at Rikers Island without bail. He faces charges of burglary, aggravated criminal contempt, criminal contempt in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 12.
As the investigation continues, the case has renewed discussions around domestic violence — particularly in same-sex relationships — and the challenges victims face in seeking help. Experts point out that controlling behaviors and isolation tactics can make it harder for victims to leave abusive situations, regardless of protective orders or prior arrests.
Prosecutors say they are building a case based on physical evidence, witness testimony, and the couple’s documented history of domestic incidents. The protective orders, prior arrests, and Jacob’s final phone call to his father could prove critical in establishing intent and a pattern of abuse.
For Jacob’s friends, the tragedy is a stark reminder of the danger signs they now wish they had acted upon. “We thought maybe it was just a rocky relationship,” Starkey said. “We didn’t think it would end like this.”
The homicide investigation remains active, with prosecutors expected to present additional evidence at Donald’s upcoming court date. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
Meanwhile, Jacob’s loved ones are left to process their loss and the violent end to a relationship they had long feared was unhealthy. “He deserved so much better,” Cummings said. “He deserved to feel safe in his own home.”
