Fitness Influencer Cleared of Murder After Husband Found Dead With Stab Wounds in Apartment

In August 2025, 34-year-old Jacob Zieben-Hood was found dead in his Upper Manhattan apartment after an alleged violent altercation with his husband, 40-year-old fitness influencer Donald Zieben-Hood. Jacob slumped over his toilet with multiple stab wounds when authorities found him.

However, despite Donald admitting that he got into a knife fight with his husband the night before his death, he has not been charged with homicide. Donald is not accused of murder as prosecutors still have doubts over Jacob’s cause of death.

The incident occurred when the couple was celebrating their 10-year anniversary. However, the occasion turned deadly as the two got into a fight. The next morning, Donald called 911 and told the first responders that he had found his husband dead on the toilet. He claimed he had slept after the fight and only discovered Jacob’s death upon waking.

Jacob had suffered multiple stab wounds, including a deep cut on his head and a wound to his calf that injured an artery, likely causing him to bleed to death. Prosecutors said the victim called his father on the night of his death and expressed fear that Donald might harm him as he was preventing him from leaving their Harlem apartment.

His father later told investigators that he heard Donald shouting at Jacob during the phone call. He also revealed that his son was preparing to become a doctor, but his dreams were left unfulfilled due to the tragedy.

Donald has now been charged with assault and burglary. He was cleared of murder charges as the Office of Medical Examiner determined that not just stab wounds, but alcohol and lorazepam intoxication could have contributed to Jacob’s death.

According to Assistant District Attorney Samantha LiTrenta, Jacob’s medical examination revealed a blood alcohol level of .40 percent at the time of his death. At the same time, he had valium in his body. Thus, authorities say that Jacob could have died even if he had not suffered the stab wounds.

Donald told investigators that he does not want to believe that his husband died because of him. “I want to know how he died because I don’t want it to be because of me. If he committed suicide or if he freaking OD’ed on some stupid a** drugs. I’m never going to get to see him again. This was our 10-year f****** anniversary,” he reportedly said to the police.

This was not the first domestic violence incident between Donald and Jacob. According to court documents, Jacob had already complained against Donald several times, with the first incident happening back in 2022. The fitness influencer, who had over 65,000 followers on Instagram, was arrested multiple times for allegedly harming his partner.

After one such incident in June 2025, the court ordered Donald to stay away from Jacob. However, he defied the order and later met him again to celebrate their 10th anniversary, leading to Jacob’s death.