On November 20, 2024, at around 9:20 p.m., Navajo County Sheriff’s deputies in Arizona responded to a 911 call reporting a medical emergency at a home near Bruin Way and Branding Iron Loop in Pinetop, a remote town in eastern Arizona. They found 59-year-old Kerri Ann Abatti dead from a gunshot wound. The property was the couple’s vacation home.
Suspect and Charges
Michael Abatti, 63, Kerri’s estranged husband and a prominent California farmer, faces first-degree murder charges. Authorities believe he drove about seven hours from El Centro, California—where his family farming business is based—to the Arizona home, shot her, and returned immediately. He was arrested December 23 in El Centro, booked into Imperial County Jail, and awaits extradition to Arizona. An indictment and arrest warrant followed evidence analysis from search warrants executed on December 2 at Abatti family properties, vehicles, and trailers in California.
Background on the Couple
The Abattis married in 1992 and had three children. They owned significant assets, including ranch land in Wyoming, homes in California and Arizona, and enjoyed luxury vacations in Hawaii, Italy, and Switzerland, with their kids attending private schools. Kerri moved to the Pinetop home after their 2023 separation. Divorce proceedings were ongoing, centered on financial disputes:
- Kerri sought to increase spousal support from $5,000 to $30,000 monthly, citing her struggles maintaining the Arizona property.
- Michael cited poor farming years and agreed to $6,400 monthly.
In court filings, Kerri described barely scraping by while handling property upkeep alone.
Business and Legal Context
Mike Abatti Farms in El Centro has operated for over 100 years in California’s Imperial Valley, a key agricultural region. In 2021, Michael petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court over water rights, challenging a California appeals court ruling that granted the Imperial Irrigation District sole ownership—critical amid ongoing farming disputes in the drought-prone valley.
This case highlights tensions in high-asset divorces, especially in agriculture where finances tie closely to land and water access. Updates may emerge as evidence analysis continues and extradition proceeds.
