Tennessee Music Executive Pleads Guilty to Faking Own Death

A music executive has pleaded guilty to faking his own death and pretending to be his killer.

WSMV-TV in Tennessee reports 62-year-old William Grothe pleaded guilty this week to attempting to defraud his life insurance company and creating the false impression of his own death.

Grothe disappeared Nov. 19. His car was found in Nashville near the Cumberland River boat ramp, and his wallet and cap were nearby.

Assistant District Attorney Rob McGuire says Grothe took out $1 million in life insurance policies.

His attorney, Richard Tennent, says Grothe, an attorney who worked for a Music Row company that collects royalties for songwriters, was living as a homeless man in Arizona.

Tennent said Grothe has been diagnosed with bipolar disease and depression.

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Information from: WSMV-TV, http://www.wsmv.com/