A well-known farmer from California has entered a not guilty plea to a murder charge in connection with the fatal shooting of his estranged wife in Arizona. Michael Abatti, 63, appeared in Navajo County Superior Court after being extradited from El Centro, California, where he was arrested for the death of Kerri Ann Abatti. Kerri was found murdered at her home in Pinetop, Arizona, a community she had moved to following their separation.
Prosecutors have indicated that Michael Abatti is being held in jail on a bond of $5.5 million, although his attorney, Owen Roth, mentions that Abatti is capable of posting the bond.
Authorities report that on November 20, Michael Abatti traveled from El Centro to Pinetop, committed the crime, and returned to California early the next morning. Kerri Abatti, who had ancestral ties to the community through early Latter-day Saints settlers, had initiated divorce proceedings in California prior to her death.
Michael Abatti is associated with a prominent farming lineage in the Imperial Valley, a region known for its agricultural productivity and the extensive use of Colorado River water. The couple, married since 1992 and parents to three children, began their separation in 2023 and were engaged in disputes over finances related to their divorce.
This tragic situation highlights the complexities that can arise in domestic relationships, particularly during the challenging transition of divorce. The case has drawn attention not only because of the circumstances surrounding Kerri Abatti’s death but also due to Michael Abatti’s prominent position in California’s agricultural community. As proceedings continue, many are left hopeful for justice in this distressing case.