ANN ARBOR, MI - A man paroled from prison less than a year ago is facing charges in the homicide of a retired University of Michigan professor.

Isom Hamilton, 29, was arraigned Friday, June 29, on charges of open murder, armed robbery, first-degree arson, first-degree home invasion and mutilation of dead body in connection with the June 11 slaying of 76-year-old Robert Sharp.

Sharp, a professor emeritus of chemistry at the university, was discovered deceased in the basement of his townhouse in the 3200 block of Alpine Drive. The Washtenaw County Medical Examiner determined Sharp was stabbed multiple times and his body then burned.

Police say Sharp had a daily routine where he would wake up and go to the Wendy's restaurant near his home, located at 3100 Boardwalk Drive, to have lunch and feed a group of stray cats.

There, police say Hamilton was working at the restaurant and learned about Sharp. Hamilton had been on parole since November 2017 after serving four years in prison on one count each of assault of a police officer, possession of a dangerous weapon and first-degree arson, records show.

Investigators believe Hamilton had quit his job at Wendy's when they allege he burglarized Sharp's home. Police allege Hamilton then returned several days later to burglarize the home again. He encountered Sharp and killed him, attempting to cover his tracks by burning Sharp's body, police contend.

Police were called to check on Sharp the morning he was found dead after a neighbor realized she hadn't seen him all day and found that unusual, said Ann Arbor Detective William Stanford during a court hearing held Friday to request a warrant on the charges against Hamilton.

Officers responding to the home found the front door ajar, Stanford said. The officers noticed heavy smoke and soot emanating from the home and called in fire crews.

Firefighters entered the home and discovered Sharp in the basement, under a pile of smoldering debris, Stanford said.

Police investigating the scene found blood in the kitchen of the home and drag marks leading to the basement, Stanford said.

Five days prior to Sharp's death, there was a break in at his home. Several items including an Apple laptop and his wallet were stolen, Stanford said.

Sharp bought a new Apple laptop after the robbery and was using it the day before his death, Stanford said. The new laptop was missing from the homicide scene.

Police discovered both the laptops were serviced at the Apple Store in Briarwood Mall after Sharp's death, Stanford said.

Security video from the store shows Hamilton with the laptops attempting to have the data on them erased, Stanford said.

A Chase Bank transaction recorded an attempted transfer of $2,000 from Sharp's account to an account belonging to Hamilton on June 10, Stanford said.

Police initially were unable to locate Hamilton, as he was listed as homeless, but later found him while staking out a parolee bus, Stanford said. Police watched Hamilton get off the bus in Ann Arbor and walk to Liberty Plaza, where he was found in possession of Sharp's laptops, Stanford said.

When asked about the laptops, Hamilton said he bought them three months ago, Stanford said. Police arrested him and took him to the Ann Arbor Police department for questioning.

Hamilton admitted he knew Sharp but denied involvement with the break in or homicide, police said.

Isom Hamilton, 29.

During his arraignment Friday, Hamilton said he was upset about the charges, arguing police did not have any DNA evidence linking him to the scene.

Subpoenaed GPS records of Hamilton's cellphone indicated the phone was at Sharp's address for two hours the night of his death, Stanford said.

Police also recovered bloody clothes belonging to Hamilton at his grandmother's home in Ypsilanti, Stanford said.

Hamilton is lodged in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary examination July 19.

Sharp began teaching chemistry at the University of Michigan in 1969 and served on the faculty for 39 years before his retirement in 2008.

His wife Maria Sharp recently died of cancer on April 20.