PINETOP, AZ – A wealthy California farmer traveled hundreds of miles to his estranged wife’s Arizona home and shot her through a window, authorities allege, killing her in the middle of their contentious divorce battle over his agricultural fortune.
Michael Abatti, 63, a prominent farmer from El Centro, California, was arrested December 23 and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kerri Ann Abatti, 59. Investigators say evidence points to him making the trip from California to Arizona, committing the homicide, and driving back the same night.
Kerri Ann was found shot inside her Pinetop residence on November 20 after a neighbor heard what he initially thought was a propane tank exploding around 9 p.m. Her nephew, who lived on the property, discovered her body. She was pronounced dead before reaching the hospital.
Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse said investigators determined the fatal bullet was fired from outside the home, through a broken window in the backyard. The evidence trail led detectives straight to her estranged husband.
“We have strong reason to believe Michael Abatti traveled from California to Arizona on the day of the shooting, committed the homicide, and returned to California shortly after,” Sheriff Clouse told reporters.
The couple’s divorce had turned ugly, with money at the center of their dispute. Kerri Ann separated from Michael in 2023 and accused him of withholding financial information about his farming operation. She struggled to maintain her lifestyle on temporary spousal support payments.
Michael fought against increasing those payments, claiming his agricultural business couldn’t handle the strain. Court records show the battle over assets had become increasingly bitter in the months before Kerri Ann’s death.
Abatti remains in custody in California awaiting extradition to Arizona. His attorneys say he plans to plead not guilty and have cited health concerns as an issue. If convicted of first-degree murder, he faces life in prison.
