GREEVNILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- A woman who stole the identity of a missing Travelers Rest woman pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Esther Reed was charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and student loan fraud.

Reed used Brooke Henson's personal information to apply for student loans and attend Columbia University. Henson disappeared on the Fourth of July weekend in 1999.

Investigators are still trying to figure out what happened to Henson, but they do not think Reed had anything to do with the Henson's 1999 disappearance.

Prosecutors have said Reed juggled six false identities to attend school in California.

Reed's attorneys, Ann Fitz, of Atlanta, and Ryan Beasley, of Greenville, have said that Reed has a psychological disorder that led to her actions.

Fitz is providing her services pro bono. She declined to name the specific mental problem, but said Reed has had a psychological disorder since the age of 14. She said Reed even took part in a case study for the disorder.

Fitz said Reed's actions were based on a "survivor instinct" and were not from any malicious intent.

Reed said Tuesday that she wanted to apologize to Henson's family, but the judge told her that she would not be allowed to address the family until her sentencing.

The sentencing date has not yet been set.