TL;DR
- Gay model Donald Zieben-Hood arrested after husband found stabbed to death.
- Charges include burglary, contempt of court, and weapon possession.
- Jacob Zieben-Hood, a fitness trainer, had a history of domestic abuse with Donald.
- Jacob had a protective order against Donald.
- Police are investigating the case as a homicide; Donald hasn’t been charged with murder.
Gay Model’s NYC Horror: Husband Found Dead, Bloodied and Slumped Over Toilet
It started like one of those Instagram power-couple dreams—abs, matching tank tops, and filtered gym selfies. But the romance between gay fitness model Donald Zieben-Hood and his husband Jacob, a personal trainer and influencer, has ended in a crime scene soaked in tragedy.
On August 3, authorities arrested Zieben-Hood, 34, after his estranged husband was discovered dead in their Harlem apartment—slumped over a toilet with multiple stab wounds and a gash on his head. The victim, Jacob Zieben-Hood, had a protective order out against Donald, who still entered the apartment that night, allegedly violating the court’s mandate.
According to prosecutors, when the police arrived, Donald had three cuts on his own arm—requiring stitches. He told the dispatcher Jacob had attacked him with a knife, but also confessed on the call he was “worried” about being arrested for the order violation. Cops weren’t buying the coincidence.
A History of Hurt
The couple’s love story had long curdled into something far more sinister. Prosecutors confirmed the two shared a violent domestic past going back to 2022. Jacob had sought court protection, a clear sign of escalating danger. On the night of his death, Jacob’s father allegedly received a phone call mid-argument, overhearing Donald screaming and hurling verbal abuse. Whatever happened next, Jacob didn’t live to speak about it.
Donald, for his part, claims he passed out after the fight and awoke to find Jacob dead around 4 a.m. He has pleaded not guilty to the current charges: burglary, criminal contempt, and weapons possession. Notably, he has not been charged with Jacob’s murder—yet.
Justice for Jacob
Officials are actively investigating the case as a homicide. A medical examiner has yet to formally declare the cause of death, but the details paint a chilling picture: a man already under court-ordered distance from his husband, found injured, at the scene, calling 911 in panic and fear—not necessarily for the man who lay dead, but for himself.
The queer community has long struggled with the silence around domestic violence in same-sex relationships, often brushed aside or sensationalized. This tragedy serves as a painful reminder that abuse doesn’t discriminate. “Gay relationships don’t make you immune to the cycle of abuse,” said one LGBTQ+ advocate on X (formerly Twitter). “We need to break the stigma and speak up.”
More Than Just a Crime Story
This isn’t just another salacious murder tale—it’s a flashing red light for the LGBTQ+ community. Domestic abuse, even in glamorized Instagram-ready relationships, can lurk behind the filtered smiles. Too often, queer victims suffer in silence, fearing disbelief or ridicule. Jacob’s story demands more than tabloid shock—it calls for awareness, support, and a reckoning within our own community.
Donald Zieben-Hood is due back in court August 7. The investigation continues.