A prominent California farmer was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder in the shooting death of his estranged wife in a remote mountain community in Arizona, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office said.
Michael Abatti, 63, was arrested in El Centro and booked into jail on a first-degree murder charge. He is awaiting extradition to Arizona. Authorities say they believe he drove to Arizona on Nov. 20 and fatally shot Kerri Ann Abatti, 59. She was found dead in her family’s tree-shrouded vacation home in Pinetop, Arizona.
The arrest was made in El Centro, a city of 44,000 people near the Mexican border. Abatti is being held on a first-degree murder charge pending extradition. The case is being handled by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. The extradition process will bring him to Arizona for trial.
Authorities believe Abatti traveled to Arizona on Nov. 20, shot Kerri, and then returned to California. He is alleged to have committed the shooting before returning home. The shooting took place in Pinetop, a remote mountain community. The timing of the travel is a key element in the investigation.
Kerri was found dead in a vacation home that was shrouded in trees. The home was located in Pinetop, Arizona. The property was part of the family’s holdings after Kerri moved there following their split. The death occurred in a remote setting.
Abatti’s attorneys said in a Wednesday statement that he “has devoted himself to his family, to his work, and to his community” and will be entering a not-guilty plea. They also added that they are “deeply concerned” about his health. The statement was released after his arrest. The attorneys emphasized his community ties.
Abatti suffers from numerous medical conditions that require ongoing treatment and access to specialized care. The attorneys expressed concern about his health. They highlighted the need for medical attention. The health issue is part of the legal strategy.
Authorities searched Abatti’s home in far Southern California on Dec. 2 as part of the investigation into his wife’s death. The search was conducted by local law enforcement. The evidence gathered is being reviewed. The search was a key investigative step.
El Centro is a city of 44,000 people just minutes from the Mexican border in the crop-rich Imperial Valley. The valley is the biggest user of Colorado River water. It is known for growing leafy greens, melons and forage crops. The city’s location is notable for its agricultural output.
Michael Abatti comes from a long line of farmers in the region bordering Arizona. His grandfather, an Italian immigrant, was among the region’s early settlers. His father Ben helped start the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association. The Abatti name is known throughout the region.
Michael has grown onions, broccoli, cantaloupes and other crops in the Imperial Valley. He served on the board of the powerful Imperial Irrigation District from 2006 to 2010. His farming activities have been significant in the area. He has held leadership positions in local agricultural groups.
Michael and Kerri Abatti were married in 1992 and had three children. The marriage lasted over three decades. They had a family life in California and Arizona. The children were part of the family dynamic.
Kerri is a descendant of one of the first Latter-day Saints families to settle Pinetop in the 1880s. The community is located 190 miles (305 kilometers) northeast of Phoenix in the White Mountains. It was briefly called Penrodville before adopting the Pinetop name. Kerri’s family history ties to the area.
The couple split in 2023 and Kerri filed for divorce in proceedings that were pending in California at the time of her death. The divorce case involved financial disputes. The proceedings were still active when Kerri died. The split set the stage for later conflicts.
The Abattis were sparring over finances with Kerri telling the court the couple had lived an upper-class lifestyle during more than three decades of marriage. They owned a large home in California, a vacation home in Pinetop and ranch land in Wyoming. They vacationed in Switzerland, Italy and Hawaii while sending their children to private school. Kerri claimed a high standard of living.
After the split, Kerri was granted $5,000 a month in temporary spousal support. Last year she asked for an increase to $30,000, saying she couldn’t maintain her standard of living. She had quit her job as a bookkeeper and office manager for the family farm in 1999 to stay home with the children. She also asked for an additional $100,000 in attorney’s fees.
Kerri wrote in court filings earlier this year that she was “barely scraping by each month, am handling all of the manual labor on our large property in Arizona and continuing its upkeep.” She added that she was living near her elderly parents. She also needed a newer car because her 2011 vehicle had more than 280,000 miles. The filings highlighted her financial strain.
Michael said in a legal filing that he couldn’t afford the increase after two bad farming years took a toll on his monthly income. He blamed European shifts in crop-buying to support war-plagued Ukrainian farmers and rising shipping costs. He also cited an unusually cold and wet winter. He described the economic challenges he faced.
Lee Hejmanowski, Michael’s family law attorney, wrote in court papers that “The income available at this time does not warrant any increase in the amount to which the parties stipulated, let alone an increase to $30,000 per month.” The statement reflects the financial argument. It was part of the legal filings. The attorney’s perspective was documented.
Days later, Michael agreed to increase temporary spousal support payments to $6,400 a month, court filings show. The new amount was a compromise between the parties. The adjustment was made following the legal discussion. It represents a change in the financial arrangement.
He studied in the agricultural business management program at Colorado State University in Fort Collins before returning to California, according to a 2023 book by his college friend, Craig Morgan, titled “The Morality of Deceit.” In 2009, Michael almost died from an infection caused by a flesh-eating bacteria and was hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma for treatment, Morgan wrote. The book provides background on his education. It also notes the serious health incident.
