by El Centro, California — A well-known Imperial Valley farmer with deep roots in California’s agricultural community has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his estranged wife at a remote Arizona mountain home, authorities confirmed this week.
According to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Abatti, 63, was taken into custody Tuesday in El Centro and booked into jail. He is currently awaiting extradition to Arizona, where investigators believe the fatal shooting occurred.
Wife Found Dead at Arizona Vacation Home
Authorities say Abatti is suspected of driving from California to Arizona on Nov. 20, where they believe he fatally shot his estranged wife, Kerri Ann Abatti, 59, before returning home.
Kerri Abatti was found dead inside her family’s tree-shrouded vacation home in Pinetop, Arizona, a mountain community in the White Mountains about 190 miles northeast of Phoenix. She had moved to the residence after the couple separated.
Investigators have not publicly detailed the evidence that led to Abatti’s arrest, but confirmed that his California home was searched on Dec. 2 as part of the ongoing homicide investigation.
Defense Says Abatti Will Plead Not Guilty
In a statement released Wednesday, attorneys representing Michael Abatti said he plans to enter a not-guilty plea.
“He has devoted himself to his family, to his work, and to his community,” the attorneys said.
They also expressed concern about his health, stating that Abatti suffers from multiple medical conditions that require ongoing treatment and access to specialized care.
A Family Name Tied to Imperial Valley Agriculture
Michael Abatti comes from a long line of farmers in the Imperial Valley, a crop-rich region near the Arizona border known for leafy greens, melons, and forage crops.
His grandfather, an Italian immigrant, was among the region’s early settlers. His father, Ben Abatti, helped establish the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association. The Abatti name has long been associated with farming enterprises, scholarship funds, and leadership roles across local boards and organizations.
Michael Abatti himself has grown onions, broccoli, cantaloupes, and other crops in the valley and previously served on the board of the Imperial Irrigation District from 2006 to 2010, one of the most influential water agencies in California.
Marriage, Divorce, and Financial Disputes
Michael and Kerri Abatti were married in 1992 and had three children. The couple separated in 2023, and Kerri filed for divorce in California. At the time of her death, the proceedings were still pending.
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Court filings show the couple had been locked in a contentious financial dispute.
Kerri Abatti told the court the family lived an upper-class lifestyle during their three-decade marriage, owning:
- A large home in California
- A vacation home in Arizona
- Ranch land in Wyoming
She said the family frequently vacationed in Switzerland, Italy, and Hawaii, and sent their children to private school.
After the separation, Kerri was awarded $5,000 per month in temporary spousal support, but later asked the court to raise that amount to $30,000, citing her inability to maintain the lifestyle she had during the marriage.
Kerri Abatti’s Financial Struggles After Separation
In court documents, Kerri said she left her job as a bookkeeper and office manager for the family farm in 1999 to raise their children and was now struggling financially.
“I am barely scraping by each month,” she wrote, adding that she was handling all maintenance on the Arizona property while living near her elderly parents.
She also requested $100,000 in attorney’s fees and said she needed to replace her aging vehicle, which had logged more than 280,000 miles.
Michael Abatti, in response, said he could not afford the increase, citing two poor farming years, rising shipping costs, and global market pressures tied to support for Ukrainian farmers during the war.
Temporary Support Increase Reached Before Death
Court records show that despite his objections, Michael Abatti later agreed to raise temporary spousal support payments to $6,400 per month.
Days later, Kerri Abatti was found dead in Arizona.
Background and Health History
Abatti studied agricultural business management at Colorado State University before returning to California. According to a 2023 book written by a college friend, he nearly died in 2009 after contracting a flesh-eating bacterial infection that left him hospitalized and in a medically induced coma.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities have not released a motive or detailed timeline beyond confirming the suspected interstate travel. The case remains under active investigation as Abatti awaits extradition to Arizona to face the murder charge.
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