Warning: This article discusses domestic violence.
Donald Zieben-Hood is facing legal trouble.
The model was arraigned on charges of burglary and contempt of court on Aug. 3 after his estranged husband Jacob Zieben-Hood was found dead in a New York City apartment two days earlier, according to charging documents obtained by NBC New York.
Jacob’s body was discovered with several stab wounds on his body, including a laceration on the head as well as several gashes on the back of his leg, authorities confirmed to E! News. The personal trainer—who had a protective order in place against Donald since last year—was pronounced dead at the scene.
Donald, who required stitches on his arm, told 911 that he had found Jacob dead in the bathroom, per the docs. He also admitted to the operator that he was worried about being arrested for violating the order, according to authorities, since he was directed to stay away from Jacob.
Police arrived at the Harlem home, where the model alleged that Jacob had attacked him with a knife. However, prosecutors noted that Jacob’s dad said he received a call from his son, in which he said Donald could be heard berating and threatening the 34-year-old.
The couple had a history of domestic abuse since at least 2022, according to the police docs.
He pleaded not guilty to his charges and is set to return to court on Aug. 7, according to online court records viewed by E! News. Although Donald was not charged with the death of Jacob, officials are investigating the incident as a homicide.
This wasn’t the first time Donald violated the order, with the 40-year-old being accused of threatening to hurt Jacob with a kitchen knife in June, prosecutors noted in the docs. Months prior, in February, he was charged with strangulation, among other charges, after allegedly attacking Jacob. Donald pleaded not guilty to all charges, per online court records. He is set to return to court on Aug. 28.
E! News has reached out to Donald’s attorney and the New York Police Department for comment and has not yet heard back.
(E! News and NBC New York are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
