A southern California farmer accused of killing his estranged wife in Arizona has been extradited and formally charged with first-degree murder.
Authorities say Michael Abatti, 63, was taken into custody last week in El Centro, California, before being transferred to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday. The arrest stems from the November 20 death of his wife, Kerri Ann Abatti, who was found fatally shot inside her Pinetop home.
According to investigators, Michael allegedly drove from California to Pinetop the day of the killing before returning home later that evening. A nephew discovered Kerri Ann’s body near her kitchen after hearing what sounded like a gunshot. An autopsy and scene investigation revealed a bullet hole through a window, suggesting the fatal shot may have been fired from outside the residence.
Abatti appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty, according to a report by Arizona’s Family.
Kerri Ann had been living in Pinetop since separating from Michael in 2023. The couple, who married in 1992 and shared three children, were in the midst of divorce proceedings in California. Court filings show the two had been embroiled in a financial dispute, with Kerri Ann requesting increased spousal support and legal fees due to rising living expenses and property maintenance costs.
While investigators have not publicly stated a motive, the couple’s financial tensions and ongoing divorce appear central to the case.
Authorities continue to investigate the killing as Michael Abatti remains in custody at the Navajo County jail.
