The fitness model influencer arrested after his personal trainer husband was found stabbed to death inside a New York City apartment was indicted on burglary and assault charges — but wasn’t charged for his hubby’s homicide as the investigation remains ongoing, Manhattan prosecutors said in court Wednesday.
Influencer Donald Zibenhood, 40, was arraigned on a slew of other charges — including burglary, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal contempt — as prosecutors revealed they are still investigating the death of his 34-year-old husband, Jacob.
“This remains an ongoing homicide investigation,” Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Samantha LiTrenta told the court.
She added that “no homicide charges were presented to the grand jury as the medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death.”
Donald Ziebenhood, who appeared in a brown jail sweater, allegedly stabbed his lover to death on Aug. 1 inside his home on West. 138th Street near Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem after the pair had a blowout fight the night prior, prosecutors have said.
During that fight, Jacob Ziebenhood even called his dad and warned him that the allegedly murderous model was “coming after him” — before he was found dead on a toilet, covered in stab wounds, according to court papers.
On Wednesday, prosecutors indicted Donald Ziebenhood for three separate altercations before the alleged murder — including for assaulting his former lover inside an apartment on Feb. 25.
Donald Ziebenhood, who had been ordered to stay away from Jacob, then went back to the apartment on June 14 and threatened to kill him with a knife — which was a violation of a court order, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors claim that cops lodged nine domestic violence incidents dating back to 2022.
“As alleged, Donald Ziebenhood escalated his threatening conduct towards his husband in multiple acts of intimate partner violence over the course of a year. My thoughts are with Mr. Zieben’s loved ones,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
Jacob ZiebenHood, who was studying to be a doctor, was found slumped over on a toilet, covered in blood with gashes from his head and multiple stab wounds to the back of his leg, prosecutors said at Donald’s criminal arraignment.
Donald Zibenhood, who had several cuts on his arms requiring stitches, told cops that he had a knife fight in their apartment with Jacob before he went to sleep.
The successful model, whose Instagram account flaunts flashy photos to nearly 68,000 followers, also claimed that he fell asleep after the domestic clash and woke up to find Jacob dead.
He was arrested at the scene and remains not charged in the grisly slaying of his former lover.
Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Cori Weston ordered Donald Zibenhood to remain held without bail.
He’s due back in court on January 7.
Read the full article here
