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A male model whose husband was found mysteriously dead was all smiles as he sat before a judge in a New York City courtroom.
Donald Zieben-Hood, 40, has been held at Rikers Island on a litany of violent charges stemming from an alleged pattern of abuse against 34-year-old Jacob Zieben-Hood.
Jacob, who was also a model, was found slumped over a toilet at their Harlem apartment in August 2025 with multiple stab wounds across his body.
asserted
who → see → body
Donald has not been charged with his husband’s death, which has been ruled a homicide, adding another chilling layer to a case already marked by allegations of domestic violence and obsession.
asserted
which → charge → violence
On Wednesday, he was brought to Manhattan Criminal Court from Rikers on a prison bus packed with dozens of other inmates to appear before Judge Cori Weston for a control hearing.
asserted
he → bring → hearing
Three officers escorted him into the courtroom from the rear cells, as Donald wore a light beige crewneck sweater and beige khakis, with his hands cuffed behind his back.
asserted
hands → escort → back
Unlike his last court appearance, Donald appeared freshly groomed, with a newly cut hairstyle and a fully grown-out mustache.
asserted
Donald → appear → hairstyle
For just a second, Donald scanned the courtroom with little emotion and a slight raise of his eyebrows.
asserted
Donald → scan → eyebrows
He then flashed a wide, ear-to-ear grin as he joined his two attorneys, appearing completely unfazed throughout the brief hearing.
asserted
he → flash → hearing
Donald Zieben-Hood, the man accused of murdering his husband, Jacob Zieben-Hood, was all smiles in court on Wednesday
Jacob, who was also a model, was found slumped over a toilet at their Harlem apartment in August 2025 with multiple stab wounds across his body
He sat calmly as he listened, his feet tucked beneath his seat with the toes of his black Puma sneakers pressed against the floor.
Donald never spoke into the microphone as his attorneys and judge discussed the next steps in moving the case forward.
asserted
attorneys → accuse → case
Another control hearing has been set for November 4, when they are expected to discuss setting an official date for his trial.
asserted
they → set → trial
Donald got up and was once again escorted by court officers back into a holding cell, staring nonchalantly ahead before disappearing inside.
asserted
Donald → get → cell
Jacob's death was ruled a homicide in October of last year after the city's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced that the young fitness model died from 'multiple blunt and sharp force injuries' to his legs and other parts of his body.
asserted
model → rule → body
Officials also cited 'acute alcohol and lorazepam intoxication and chronic alcohol use' as contributing factors.
asserted
Officials → cite → factors
According to prosecutors, Jacob made a desperate call to his father on July 31, just hours before his death, 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 on his leg.
uncertain
He → accord → leg
Unlike his last court appearance, he appeared freshly groomed, with a newly cut hairstyle and a fully grown-out mustache
He sat calmly as he listened, his feet tucked beneath his seat with the toes of his black Puma sneakers pressed against the floor
By 4am the next morning, police were back at the couple's apartment on West 146th Street.
asserted
police → appear → Street
Inside, they found Jacob dead in the bathroom, his body still on the toilet, with stab wounds to his leg and a head injury.
asserted
body → find → leg
Officers described a chaotic crime scene with blood smeared on the furniture, walls, floor, and counters, suggesting there had been a violent struggle.
asserted
blood → describe → furniture
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.
asserted
they → obtain → fight
Donald was arrested at the scene and has been held at Rikers Island ever since.
asserted
Donald → arrest → Island
The Daily Mail previously revealed a long and disturbing record of violence between the couple, citing court filings.
asserted
Mail → reveal → filings
In the year before Jacob's death, Donald allegedly violated multiple orders of protection, repeatedly breaking into his husband's apartment to threaten and attack him.
uncertain
Donald → violate → him
The two were celebrating their 10-year anniversary on the night of Jacob's death
Jacob's death was ruled a homicide in October of last year after the city's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced that the young fitness model died from 'multiple blunt and sharp force injuries' to his legs and other parts of his body
The Daily Mail previously revealed a long and disturbing record of violence between the couple, citing court filings
In February 2025, police say Donald strangled Jacob during a beating that left him nearly unconscious.
asserted
that → celebrate → him
Then in June, he allegedly returned with a knife, prompting a third restraining order.
uncertain
he → return → order
To those who knew Jacob before his marriage, the transformation was stark.
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transformation → know → marriage
Friends described a vibrant, outgoing fitness model who began to disappear from his social circle as the relationship grew darker.
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relationship → describe → circle
'I had no contact with him, and I just wanted him to be happy,' said Jacob Paulson, a close friend who met him in 2013.
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who → have → 2013
'I was hoping that he was.'
asserted
he → hop → ?
Another friend, Joshua Baker, said Jacob began ghosting him in 2015 after he started dating Donald.
asserted
he → say → Donald
'He stopped answering calls,' Baker told NBC News.
asserted
Baker → stop → News
'He even blocked me at one point.'
asserted
He → block → point
Jacob's father also picked up on the change from his son and grew worried for him just before his death.
asserted
father → pick → death
The Aporia
