Attorney who faked death receives probation

The Music Row attorney who faked his own death and then later turned up in Montana received a sentence of five years of probation. He will also be required to perform community service and pay restitution.

Bill Grothe, 62, pleaded guilty in May to one count of attempting to defraud his insurance company and another of creating the false impression of his own death.

Criminal Court Judge Mark Fishburn issued his sentence Friday afternoon. He faced up to a three-year prison sentence. He must pay restitution of $13,000 to cover expenditures made trying to find him after he went missing last year. Grothe will also be required to perform 32 hours of community service each month to help the homeless.

Grothe’s car was found last fall in Shelby Park near the Cumberland River and some of his belongings were scattered along the riverbank. Other belongings were found in a plastic bag dumped in front of a home on South Fifth Street.

Metro Detective Hugh Coleman eventually discovered that Grothe checked into a hotel in Montana. Police said Grothe himself made a cal to Nashville’s Emergency Communications Center claiming to be the man who murdered Grothe.

Eventually Grothe checked into a medical facility in Arizona in January, before returning to his Williamson County home. The longtime Music Row attorney was employed by SESAC at the time of his disappearance.

Grothe had taken out two life insurance policies in 2008 equaling $1 million.After the sentence is served, he will be able to file to have his record expunged.