Charging Documents Detail Nine Alleged Incidents Since 2022
Former friends and acquaintances of Jacob Zieben say they are still reeling from news of his death in his Harlem apartment and from learning the extent of the alleged abuse he endured in the years before.
Zieben, 34, was found dead on July 31 after his husband, model Donald Hood, called police for help, according to charging documents as reported by NBC News. Officers discovered Zieben slumped over a toilet with a head injury and multiple stab wounds to the back of his leg, one deep enough to damage muscle. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released an official cause of death, but authorities are investigating the case as a homicide. No one has yet been charged pending the results of the autopsy.
Hood, 40, who has more than 67,000 Instagram followers, was arrested the same day on charges including burglary and is being held without bail at Rikers Island. Court records show a history of domestic violence allegations against Hood dating back to 2022, including nine domestic incident reports and two separate court orders of protection directing him to stay away from Zieben. His attorney has declined to comment.
Friends say they watched Hood isolate Zieben over the years, cutting him off from the social network he built after moving to New York in 2013. Jacob Paulson, who met Zieben shortly after that move, said the pair were inseparable for two years until Zieben began dating Hood.
Charging documents outline a string of nine alleged assaults in the months before Zieben’s death. In February, prosecutors arrested Hood and charged him with strangulation, nearly causing him to lose consciousness, among other charges. The incident left Zieben with swelling and redness on his neck. That case is still pending.
In April, a judge issued another protective order, but prosecutors allege Hood violated it in June by brandishing a knife at Zieben and threatening to attack him. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Zieben, a Texas A&M graduate who worked as a personal trainer, was remembered by friends as selfless and community-minded. Drag performer Marti G. Cummings, who uses they/them pronouns, recalled Zieben’s kindness and protective nature as he insisted on walking them to gigs late at night to ensure they got there safely.
