ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — A judge has found a man guilty of murdering a University of Michigan professor, the family tells 7 Action News.
Isom Hamilton was facing several felony charges in the death of 77-year-old Robert Sharp. Sharp was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside his Ann Arbor home last June.
Investigators say Hamilton broke into Sharp's home twice before killing him. He was charged with open murder, armed robbery, first degree home arson, home invasion and mutilated dead body.
His bench trial lasted several days before the judge decided his fate. Defense attorneys didn't dispute that Sharp was killed in a stabbing murder, but claimed no DNA or fingerprints from Isom were found in the home.
Prosecutors said that's because the home was torched, and alleged Isom allegedly wore black gloves to cover his tracts after committing the crime, which included stealing electronics and valuables from the home.
In court, it was also revealed that Hamilton similarly robbed and served time for threatening an Eastern Michigan University professor in 2012.
Witnesses say Hamilton once worked at a Wendy's where he became familiar with Sharp and his late wife, before allegedly breaking into his home twice and stealing his laptop.
Sharp was a retired Chemistry professor for the University of Michigan Chemistry Department and began his career with the university in 1969.
