A male model with a history of alleged domestic violence toward his husband was arraigned on charges of burglary and contempt of court over the weekend, accused of violating a protection order at the Harlem home when his partner was found dead.
Jacob Zieben-Hood was found dead around 4 a.m. Friday, slumped over a toilet with multiple stab wounds across his body, prosecutors said in charging documents.
The 34-year-old personal trainer had a gash on his head and several wounds to the back of his leg, one deep enough to penetrate the muscle, according to officials. A medical examiner has not yet determined his cause of death.
Police found the man at his Harlem apartment on West 138th Street after his husband, Donald Zieben-Hood, called 911. Donald told the operator he found his husband dead on the toilet and expressed worry that he could be arrested for violating a protection order, prosecutors said. Donald said he had been hurt and needed medical attention.
Prosecutors said Jacob had a protection order in place against his husband since late last year. Donald was ordered to stay away and refrain from communicating with Jacob, an order he’s alleged to have broken on several occasions.
When police arrived around found Donald seated on the couch inside the apartment, he allegedly told officers that Jacob had attacked him with a knife. Officials said Donald had three cuts on his arms that needed stitches.
Prosecutors, however, claim that Jacob had called his dad earlier in the night, claiming that Donald was chasing him with a knife and refusing to let him leave the apartment. His father said he could hear Donald in the background of the call, yelling at Jacob and calling him names.
Donald was arraigned Sunday on charges of burglary, criminal contempt and weapons possession. He has not been charged in the death of his husband, but officials are investigating the case as a homicide.
Officials said the couple has a history of domestic abuse dating to 2022.
In June, Donald was accused of breaking the protection order when he menaced Jacob with a kitchen knife and threatened to hurt him, prosecutors alleged. He was brought up on charges of menacing and criminal contempt at the time.
And in February, prosecutors charged Donald with strangulation, among a long list of other charges, for allegedly attacking Jacob inside the Harlem apartment.
A public defender representing Donald would not comment on the charges when reached by email Monday.
