DEVILS LAKE (AP) - A man charged with killing a Devils Lake woman has pleaded guilty to murder, saying he was drunk when he stabbed her to death.

Billy Eagleman admitted in court Tuesday that he killed Paula Hartze, 43, a teacher at the North Dakota School for the Deaf who was stabbed to death in her home March 1. Her body was found the next day.

Eagleman, 27, told Judge Lee Christofferson that he went to Hartze's home uninvited, got a knife from her kitchen and stabbed her a number of times while she lay in her bed. He said he was drunk at the time.

Defense attorney Scott Thompson read a statement he said was written by Eagleman, in which Eagleman apologized to Hartze's family for what he called an "unforgivable crime" and said, "If I could bring her back, I would."

Ramsey County prosecutor Lonnie Olson said Hartze had dated Eagleman's brother and the victim and Eagleman knew each other socially. He said a motive for the killing may never be known.

"I would be surprised, given the alcohol usage, whether there was much thought process for motive," Olson said.

The prosecutor said Eagleman left Hartze's home after killing her, then returned the next day pretending to discover the body.

Eagleman is to be sentenced Feb. 3.