A distinguished Imperial Valley farmer charged with killing his estranged spouse was extradited to Arizona on Tuesday, the place bail has been set at $5.5 million.
Michael Abatti, 63, was arrested on Dec. 23 within the killing of Kerri Ann Abatti, 59. He pleaded not responsible to a cost of first-degree homicide on Wednesday in Navajo County Superior Courtroom.
A reserving mugshot of Michael Abatti.
(Imperial County Sheriff’s Workplace)
As soon as bail is posted, Abatti can be allowed to return to El Centro — the place he lives and the place he can obtain ongoing medical therapies, based on his attorneys, Owen Roth and Danielle Iredale. He’s required to give up his passport and can be allowed restricted journey to Arizona and Wyoming, the place the Abattis personal property.
Kerri Abatti was shot in her house within the Arizona city of Pinetop-Lakeside round 9 p.m. on Nov. 20, authorities say. An post-mortem report exhibits she was shot as soon as within the head. The shot got here from outdoors her home and went by a window.
Her nephew discovered her after listening to a loud bang, and referred to as 911, based on post-mortem studies. She died whereas being taken to a hospital in Present Low, which is roughly 10 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside.
In keeping with the couple’s divorce filings, the Abattis had been embroiled in a bitter feud concerning the quantity of economic spousal help Kerri Abatti was owed following the separation. Kerri Abatti left her husband and their El Centro house in August 2023 after 31 years of marriage.
Whereas he was on a fishing journey, she left for Pinetop-Lakeside, the place the couple owned a 7,000-square-foot house on a 14-acre lot.
Kerri Abatti grew up in Pinetop-Lakeside; it’s the place her dad and mom, siblings and prolonged household reside.
The couple have three grownup youngsters who reside in California and Nevada.
Images of Michael Abatti taken Wednesday in Navajo County present him shirtless and carrying a suicide vest.
His attorneys advised The Instances on Monday that he had surrendered to authorities in El Centro when he realized of the arrest warrant.
At a information convention on Monday, Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse advised reporters his detectives “had sturdy purpose to imagine that Mr. Abatti had traveled from El Centro, Calif., on Nov. 20 to Pinetop, Ariz., dedicated the murder and traveled again to California.”
A pretrial convention and launch listening to is scheduled for March 17 in Navajo County.
