Key Point Summary – Donald Zieben-Hood

• Donald Zieben-Hood arrested after husband Jacob died from stab wounds
• Victim called father before death, saying Donald was “coming after him”
• Couple had history of violence and multiple court protection orders
• Donald admitted to breaking protection order on night of death
• Judge denied bail as homicide investigation continues

A Fatal Night In Harlem

Donald Zieben-Hood’s marriage collapsed in violence early Friday morning. Just hours before his death, Jacob Zieben-Hood phoned his father, warning that his influencer husband was “coming after him” and blocking him from leaving their West 138th Street apartment. While Jacob spoke, his father heard Donald shouting insults in the background.

Police rushed to the scene and discovered Jacob slumped on the toilet, bleeding heavily from multiple stab wounds. One deep injury cut through an artery, which caused him to bleed to death. Donald, his arms marked with fresh cuts, told officers they fought with knives the night before. He insisted he fell asleep afterward and woke to find Jacob dead.

A Violent History Between The Couple

Neighbors had long noticed trouble brewing inside the apartment. Craig Wesley, who lives in the same building, said arguments between the two often turned loud and explosive. He even called the police in June after one particularly fierce clash.

Court records show Donald Zieben-Hood’s arrests for domestic violence began earlier this year. In February, officers charged him with strangling Jacob during a heated argument, leading to a protection order. Just four months later, police arrested him again for allegedly threatening Jacob with a kitchen knife. Despite prosecutors asking for higher bail both times, judges released him on $5,000 bail.

Court Orders Ignored

On the night Jacob died, Donald Zieben-Hood admitted to violating the protection order yet again. “I had an order of protection placed against me. I’m getting arrested, right?” he told the dispatcher, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors say Donald’s repeated defiance of court orders created a dangerous pattern that ended in tragedy. The judge denied him bail, and detectives continue to investigate the killing as a homicide. Wesley, the neighbor, said the fighting grew more intense over the holidays and he feared it would “end badly.”