A male model accused of fatally stabbing his personal trainer spouse presented a markedly altered appearance during his court hearing on Wednesday.
Donald Zieben-Hood, 41, who once boasted over 67,000 followers on Instagram, appeared in a New York courtroom dressed in casual tan prison attire. He faced several charges, including burglary, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, following the death of his husband, Jacob Zieben-Hood, on August 1, 2025.
Displaying a seemingly smug demeanor, he listened as his attorneys sought to secure his release on bail. They proposed that his mother, a retired school teacher suffering from a brain aneurysm, would cover the bail expenses. Additionally, they assured the court that Donald would agree to electronic monitoring.
However, the judge ultimately refused the bail request, citing Donald’s apparent disregard for the court, its judges, and existing protective orders.
The judge highlighted that Donald reportedly violated several protective orders that Jacob had obtained against him, repeatedly trespassing into Jacob’s apartment and issuing threats, leading up to the tragic event.
Prosecutors revealed that just hours before his death, on July 31, Jacob, aged 34, made a frantic phone call to his father, warning that his husband was ‘coming after him.’
He sent photos of fresh injuries, including cuts to his face, head and a large bleeding gash in his leg.
By 4am the next morning, police were back at the couple’s apartment on West 146th Street in New York City.
Inside, they found Jacob dead in the bathroom, his body still on the toilet, with stab wounds to his leg and a head injury.
Donald Zieben-Hood, 41, appeared in court on Wednesday to face charges including burglary, assault and criminal possession of a weapon
The two were celebrating their 10-year anniversary on the night of Jacob’s death
Officers described a chaotic crime scene with blood smeared on the furniture, walls, floor, and counters, suggesting there had been a violent struggle.
Court documents obtained by the New York Post revealed the couple had been celebrating their 10 year anniversary the night before, when they got into the explosive fight.
Donald was arrested at the scene, when he allegedly pleaded with officers to tell him how his husband died.
‘I want to know how he died because I don’t want it to be because of me,’ he told the officers at the scene, according to the court documents. ‘If he committed suicide or if he freaking OD’ed on some stupid a** drugs.
‘I’m never going to see him again,’ Donald then lamented, noting: ‘This was our 10-year f***ing anniversary.’
The city’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined that Jacob died from ‘multiple blunt and sharp force injuries’ to his legs and other parts of his body.
Officials also cited ‘acute alcohol and lorazepam intoxication and chronic alcohol use’ as contributing factors.
Yet Donald will not face homicide charges in connection with Jacob’s death.
Donald Zieben-Hood wore a smug expression on his face as his lawyers tried to get him released on bail, which they said his mother – a retired school teacher who has a brain aneurysm – would pay for
Donald (left) was arrested following Jacob’s (right) death and is being held at Riker’s Island
Prosecutors announced the decision in March, noting there was ‘reasonable doubt’ about whether multiple stab wounds Jacob sustained from the fight would have caused his death alone.
Assistant District Attorney Samantha LiTrenta also revealed in court at the time that Jacob had a blood alcohol level of 0.40 percent – which is considered potentially fatal – mixed with valium in his system at his death.
Those substances could have killed him even if he had not been stabbed.
Still, prosecutors say Donald engaged in a pattern of abuse in the lead up to Jacob’s death.
Donald (left) was accused of stabbing his husband, Jacob Zieben-Hood (right), who was later found dead in the bathroom
In February 2025, police say Donald strangled Jacob during a beating that left him nearly unconscious. Then in June, he allegedly returned with a knife, prompting a third restraining order.
If convicted on the assault and burglary charges, Donald could now face up to 25 years in prison.
He is due back in court on August 12.
