The mother of a Manhattanville College student found slain in her school apartment today pled guilty to manslaughter charges. 

Stacey Pagli admitted that she killed her 18 year old daughter Marissa February 22, 2010 following an argument.

Pagli was originally charged with murder. In exchange for her guilty plea she will serve 20 years in prison. She had been examined by several psychiatrists following the shocking killing, most of whom agreed she was suffering from "emotional disturbance."

Pagli remains at the Westchester County Jail without bail.

Sentencing is set for April 5. 

The lawyer for the Purchase woman accused of murdering her teenage daughter indicated Wednesday that they are planning to mount a psychiatric defense. Legal Aid attorney Allan Focarile said he plans to offer evidence that Pagli was not in her right mind when she allegedly strangled her 22 year old daughter Marissa inside the family's apartment on the Manhattanville College campus February 22. Prosecutors said Stacey Pagli initially told police she killed her daughter during an argument saying her daughter was "rude and disrespectful" and that she "had pressed her last button."

Focarile said Pagli's multiple attempted suicides after the killing indicate his client's  troubled mindset. Stacey Pagli is charged with second degree murder but analysts say she could be convicted of a lesser charge of manslaughter if a jury believes she was suffering emotional distress and severe depression at the time of the killing.

The Westchester County mother accused of killing her daughter at Manhattanville Collegewas in court  today and pleaded not guilty to second degree murder charges.

Thirty-eight-year-old Stacey Pagli said nothing during a brief appearance in Westchester County Court in White Plains.  Pagli is charged with one count of second-degree murder in the strangulation of 18-year-old Marissa Pagli in the family's campus apartment on February 22nd.  According to court papers released last week, Stacey Pagli told police her daughter was "disrespectful" and the strangling occurred after "she pushed my last button."  She attempted suicide after the killing by cutting her wrist and trying to hang herself from a doorknob.  Pagli's attorney entered the not guilty plea for his client.  He did not seek bail and would not say whether he plans to mount a defense based on mental illness.  Pagli faces up to  25 years to life in prison if found guilty.

The Westchester County mother accused of killing her daughter at Manhattanville College has been indicted.  Thirty-eight-year-old Stacey Pagli is now formally charged with one count of second-degree murder in the strangulation of 18-year-old Marissa Pagli in the family's campus apartment on February 22nd.

Prosecutors say Stacey Pagli  returned home after dropping off her 3 year old daughter at daycare and got into an argument with her daughter Marissa, a Manhattanville freshman. Officials allege the argument became physical resulting in Stacey Pagli strangling her daughter to death and attempting to take her own life by cutting her left wrist and hanging herself on a doorknob.

The woman charged with strangling her daughter at Manhattanville College on Monday has apparently tried to take her own life while in jail.

Police have arrested the mother of a Manhattanville College student and charged her with Second Degree Murder in the killing of her daughter, 18 year old Marissa Pagli. Acting Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini says investigators believe 37 year old Stacey Pagli strangled Marissa around 9 a.m. Monday and then tried to take her own life by hanging herself. Officials do not believe the teenager was asleep when she was killed. Marraccini refused to speculate on a possible motive.

A wake for Marissa Pagli is planned for Thursday at Craft Memorial Funeral Home in Port Chester. A funeral mass is set for Friday at 11 a.m. at ST. Anthony of Padua Church in Harrison.

While police are still mum about a potential motive in the slaying of 18 year old Manhattanville College student Marissa Pagli, sources say Pagli was killed by her mother, who then attempted to hang herself. Pagli was reportedly found Monday by her father, who is a maintenance supervisor at the school. College President Molly Easo Smith  and Acting Harrison Police Chief  Anthony Marraccini have assured students and faculty at the school that they are safe and that the killing was an “isolated family matter.”

Stacey Pagli is being treated at White Plains Hospital. Her condition has not been released. Marissa Pagli was an avid vollyball player who graduated from Harrison High School in 2009.