Michael Abatti, a longtime Imperial Valley farmer, was arrested Tuesday in El Centro on a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his estranged wife, Kerri Ann Abatti, who was found dead at her Pinetop vacation home on Nov. 20. Investigators say a Navajo County grand jury returned an indictment and Abatti was booked into the Imperial County Jail, where he is awaiting extradition to Arizona. The arrest comes after detectives widened the case beyond Arizona and served search warrants at properties tied to the Abatti family earlier this month.
Officials Say Evidence Drove Grand Jury Case
The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and investigators say they believe Abatti traveled to Pinetop on Nov. 20, fatally shot Kerri Ann Abatti, then returned to California. The Houston Chronicle notes Abatti, 63, was arrested in El Centro and booked on a first-degree murder charge, and that Kerri, 59, had moved back to Pinetop after the couple split in 2023. Authorities have not released any public comment from Abatti's attorney and say the investigation remains active.
Search Warrants Reach Into Imperial Valley
Detectives executed multiple search warrants on Dec. 2 at sites tied to the Abatti family in El Centro, including the family residence, two camp trailers and vehicles, as part of a probe that began in Arizona, according to the Los Angeles Times. Officials say the warrants were obtained based on evidence developed in Arizona, though they have declined to disclose what, if anything, was seized.
Divorce Battle Put Money On The Table
Court records show Kerri Abatti filed for divorce in October 2023 and had sought a substantial increase in spousal support, telling the court she was "barely scraping by" while maintaining the Arizona property, the Houston Chronicle reported. The filings show she sought roughly $30,000 a month, while temporary support had been set at $5,000. The parties later agreed to raise temporary payments to $6,400 a month as their financial dispute continued.
Arrest, Indictment And What Comes Next
Local reporting says a Navajo County grand jury returned an indictment before an arrest warrant was issued and Abatti was taken into custody in El Centro on Dec. 23. The Mountain Daily Star reports he was arrested at a business in the 100 block of McCabe Road and that the arrest was "without incident." He faces a first-degree murder charge in Arizona, and prosecutors are expected to move the case forward once extradition and arraignment take place.
Prominent Farming Name, Deep Local Roots
Abatti comes from a prominent Imperial Valley farming family and has served on the Imperial Irrigation District board. His operations grow onions, broccoli and cantaloupe, the Los Angeles Times reports. Neighbors and relatives in Pinetop remember Kerri as an active community member and musician who had returned home to care for aging parents after separating from her husband.
Detectives Still Seeking Tips
The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office says the inquiry remains active and thanked assisting agencies for their cooperation, per reporting by FOX10 Phoenix. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the Pinetop shooting to contact the sheriff’s office tip line, according to ABC15.
