AUSTIN, Texas — A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the strangulation death of his ex-girlfriend in Central Austin earlier this month, police said.
Paul Allen was arrested Oct. 9, four days after Nitza Debiase, 28, was found dead in her bedroom at 4406 Avenue A, the Austin Police Department said.
Officers responded to a report of a deceased person at the address at approximately 11:53 a.m. Oct. 5. Debiase was pronounced dead at 12:04 p.m.
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Homicide detectives and crime scene specialists processed the scene and interviewed witnesses. Investigators believe Debiase was physically attacked and strangled by Allen, who then left the area, police said.
Allen was located and arrested with assistance from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Pflugerville Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Austin police tactical intelligence and air units.
He has been charged with first-degree murder. According to online records, he remains in the Travis County Correctional Complex and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Austin police at 512-974-8477 or submit an anonymous tip through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.
The case is being investigated as Austin’s 46th homicide of 2025.