ANN ARBOR, MI - Police say a retired University of Michigan professor found dead in his basement Monday is being investigated as a homicide case.

Police identified the victim as Robert Sharp, 76, a professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Michigan, according to a statement by the Ann Arbor Police Department.

Sharp was found dead Monday morning, June 11, in the basement of his townhouse in the 3200 block of Alpine Drive. Police said they found evidence of foul play at the scene but have not elaborated as to the cause of Sharp's death.

Investigators who have been in and out of the home since Sharp was discovered dead believe the incident occurred overnight sometime between Sunday and Monday.

Police were called to the home that evening to conduct a welfare check on Sharp after he failed to show up to a meeting at the condominium complex where he lived, neighbors said.

Police are still investigating the incident and no arrests have been made.

Sharp began teaching chemistry at the University of Michigan in 1969 shortly after completing his post-doctoral work at Oxford in England, said Sharp's son, David Sharp.

"My dad loved Ann Arbor and everything about it," David Sharp said. "He loved to learn, read and travel. He knew so much about so many things that you could talk to him for hours and continually learn something new."

He said it has been a rough time for his family lately as his mother, Maria Sharp, also recently died of cancer on April 20.

"He was my role model and I loved him dearly," Sharp said. "He taught me who I am."

He said he did not want to discuss the manner of his father's death in fear of possibly hurting the investigation.

Sharp served on the faculty at UM for 39 years before his retirement in 2008. UM College of Literature, Science and the Arts Associate Dean for Natural Sciences Douglas Richstone said the college was saddened to learn of Sharp's death and extend its deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

"Professor Sharp's work here centered on applications of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the physical structure of molecules," Richstone said in a statement. "His work found particularly useful application in understanding oxidation and reduction chemical cycles in photosynthesis, in the refinement of a theoretical framework to analyze experimental and diagnostic data, and in the development of chemical agents to improve visible detail in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for medical use."

Anyone with information about Sharp's death can call the Ann Arbor Police Department tip line at 734-794-6939, Detective William Stanford at 734-323-2628 or send an e-mail to tips@a2gov.org