The oldest son of former SIUC fundraiser Nancy Martin confessed Wednesday to unintentionally killing her.

Benjamin Martin, 31, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the case and could serve between 10 and 30 years in prison for strangling his mother at his New Jersey home, according to a release by the Gloucester County prosecutor’s office. Sentencing is set for Feb. 15.

Nancy Martin, 51, was meeting with clients and visiting family when she went missing in March 2006. Benjamin Martin led police to her body at the urging of family members several days later, police said.

According to the prosecutor’s release, Benjamin Martin said in court that on March 11, 2006, his mother arrived unexpectedly at his Pitman, N.J home, which she owned. The release says Nancy Martin then drank a “substantial” amount of alcohol over the course of about 12 hours and she and her son engaged in a verbal confrontation that eventually turned physical.

Benjamin Martin said he strangled his mother until he realized her arm had gone limp, but he did not mean to kill her, according to the release.

Benjamin Martin’s brothers, Josh and Matthew Martin, told a New Jersey newspaper shortly after the death that their mother frequently abused Benjamin Martin.

“She tried her best,” Josh Martin said of his mother. “The intent was there, but the execution wasn’t that good.”

Nancy Martin earned degrees in radio-television and cinematography from SIUC in 1976.

SIUC spokesman Rod Sievers said in a statement the university hopes the guilty plea brings closure for the victim’s family.

“Nancy was a valuable member of the university community and her loss was devastating to many people on campus, specifically those in the College of Science and in the division of Institutional Advancement,” Sievers said in the statement.

Jeff Lorber, Nancy Martin’s supervisor at the SIU Foundation, said he remembers her as a hard worker and as someone who was excited to work for her alma mater.

“She was someone who was very passionate about her work,” Lorber said.

Joe Crawford can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or [email protected].