NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An attorney who faked his death and then pretended to be his killer pleaded guilty Wednesday.

With that plea, William Grothe went from being a man once thought dead to a man with a criminal record.

"For his family, it has been incredibly, incredibly difficult and traumatic," said Richard Tennent, Grothe's attorney. "And that's something he's going to have to work on, really, for the rest of his life."

It's been a bizarre seven months for the former attorney of a Music Row royalty company. He disappeared in November, and his family frantic when his belongings were found scattered in Shelby Park.

Shortly afterward, police received a call from someone calling saying he was Grothe's murderer.

As the Channel 4 I-Team exposed, Grothe was found alive in Montana, riding a bike, leading the Thanksgiving Day prayer at a motel.

His attorney said Grothe was ultimately found on the streets halfway across the country.

"Mr. Grothe was a homeless man living in a wash outside Tucson, Ariz.," said Tennent.

Police realized Grothe had planned everything, even made the phone call to police, posing as his own murderer.

"It was discovered that the defendant had taken out life insurance policies in May and August of 2008 in an amount of $1 million," said Rob McGuire, assistant district attorney.

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

When Channel 4 reporter Jeremy Finley asked Tennent if Grothe understood his actions, Tennent said, "I think that's a good question. It's always hard that you can reflect, but the disease is always there."

Grothe ultimately pleaded guilty to attempting to defraud his life insurance company and creating the false impression of his own death.

He'll be sentenced next month.

The judge asked Grothe if his medicine was now working and if his mood was stable, and Grothe said yes.

Grothe's family was not in court Wednesday.