The husband of an Instagram model and fitness trainer who was found dead in his bathroom was indicted Wednesday for allegedly assaulting his late spouse after breaking in to their Manhattan apartment, violating several protection orders, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced.
Donald Zieben-Hood was hit with charges of burglary, felony assault, aggravated criminal contempt and criminal weapons possession in connection with the death of Jacob Zieben, who was found dead and covered in blood, with wounds to the back of his leg and head, slumped on the toilet in the couple’s Harlem apartment on W. 138th St. near Frederick Douglass Blvd. at 4 a.m. on July 31.
“As alleged, Donald Zieben-Hood escalated his threatening conduct toward his husband in multiple acts of intimate-partner violence over the course of a year,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. “My thoughts are with Mr. Zieben’s loved ones.”
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Donald Zieben-Hood (left) and Jacob Zieben attend the launch party at Watches of Switzerland on Nov. 29, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Watches of Switzerland SoHo Launch Party)
There were at least nine previous domestic violence reports, dating as far back as March 2022, documenting Zieben-Hood’s abuse against his husband, according to court documents. This year, Zieben-Hood was arrested twice for assaulting Zieben at the apartment. In February, he was accused of choking Zieben and then two hours later choking him again and hitting him in the face.
On June 14, less than two months before Zieben’s death, Zieben-Hood allegedly confronted Zieben outside their home with a knife and said, “I will attack you,” according to a criminal complaint. He was charged with menacing and contempt of court and released on $5,000 bail.
Instagram / jzieben
Manhattan personal trainer and fitness influencer Jacob Zieben, 34, was found dead in his Harlem apartment on Aug. 1, 2025. (Instagram / jzieben)
On the night of his death, Zieben called his father and told him that Zieben-Hood had attacked him with a knife and refused to let him out of their apartment, according to prosecutors. He also texted his father a photo of a deep gash on his leg where he said Zieben-Hood had slashed him with a knife.
Police said they believe the leg wounds Zieben suffered cut an artery, and that the victim bled to death. Multiple knives were recovered from the apartment.
Zieben’s cause of death was still pending Wednesday.
