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More than a month after a woman was found shot to death inside an Arizona home, investigators say newly discovered shows have taken the case well across state lines and directly to a California farming magnate.
A murder investigation that began in Pinetop, Arizona has expanded to a multi-agency case and the arrest of 63-year-old Michael Abatti of El Centro, California.
Investigators with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office have released new details in the killing of 59-year-old Kerri Ann Abatti, who they say died from a gunshot through a window in her Arizona home on Nov. 20. Authorities say Michael Abatti, her ex-husband, was arrested Dec. 23 and is charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.
Officers responded to a 911 call the night of Nov. 20 and found Kerri Abatti suffering from a gunshot wound inside her home. She was taken to a hospital but pronounced dead before arrival, investigators said.
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This photo provided by the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office shows Michael Abatti on December 23, 2025. (Imperial County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
According to the Los Angeles Times, neighbor Corey McGarrahan and his wife were watching television shortly after 9pm when they heard a loud surge outside that they initially thought was a propane explosion.
“We paused the television, looked at each other and said, ‘Did you hear that?’” McGarrahan told the outlet.
Investigators later determined that it was a gunshot. Kerri Abatti, a long-time member of the Pinetop community, was fatally wounded.
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Michael Abatti has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Kerri Abatti. (Jay Calderon/The Desert Solar / USA TODAY NETWORK tramite Imagn Pictures)
Court documents and authorities said the couple was in the midst of a difficult divorce at the time of the killing, with financial support at the center of the dispute.
According to Navajo County detectives, evidence developed during the investigation led detectives to believe that Michael Abatti had traveled from California to Arizona on the day of the shooting and returned to California shortly thereafter.
Sheriff David Clouse told reporters during a press conference on December 29 that investigators were carefully focusing on Abatti’s whereabouts on the day of the murder and the day after. While declining to reveal specific shows, Clouse said investigators had “strong reason to believe” that Abatti had made the trip, committed the murder and returned to California, according to Los Angeles Occasions.
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Bruce Tucker of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office speaks during a news conference in Holbrook, Arizona, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, regarding a recent arrest in the death of Kerri Ann Abatti, the estranged wife of prominent farmer Michael Abatti of Imperial Valley, California. (Suzanne Adams-Ockrassa/White Mountain Unbiased tramite AP)
Kerri Abatti was found in her home by her nephew, who lived on the property, authorities said. According to a medical examiner’s investigative report cited by Los Angeles Occasions, the nephew initially believed she may have fallen and was unaware that she had been shot.
Investigators found a broken window and determined that the bullet was fired from outside the home, into the backyard. A passerby also reported hearing a loud bang, consistent with that of a large-caliber gun, Occasions reported.
Navajo County officials outlined the scope of the investigation during a Dec. 29 news conference following Abatti’s arrest. FOX 10 Phoenix reported that investigators worked with numerous law enforcement agencies in Arizona and California as the case expanded across state lines.
Clouse said investigators spent four days examining the Arizona home and combing the neighborhood for witnesses, surveillance video and other shows. Investigators also interviewed family members, friends and business associates in Arizona and Southern California.
“There’s a lot of what puts the pieces of the puzzle together for us,” Clouse said. “We went door to door, everywhere in between.”
Authorities said investigators have served numerous search warrants linked to the Abatti family in California, seizing shows that remain under analysis.
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Michael Abatti’s house was seen on Friday, December 12, 2025 in El Centro, California. (Gregorio Bull/AP Picture)
According to the Associated Press, Abatti comes from a multigenerational farming family in California’s Imperial Valley, where the family name has long been associated with community farming and management.
Court documents obtained by FOX 10 show the couple separated in 2023, with Kerri Abatti returning to her hometown and filing for divorce in California. The case was still pending at the time of his death.
The divorce filings, reviewed by FOX 10, show Kerri accused her husband of withholding financial information and said she struggled to maintain her standard of living with temporary spousal support as the proceedings dragged on.
Michael Abatti opposed increasing those payments, citing the financial strain on the farming business.
According to the Related Press, Abatti’s lawyers said he plans to enter a not guilty plea and noted concerns about his health.
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Abatti remains detained in California, awaiting extradition to Arizona. Authorities have not revealed when he will be returned to face charges.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Stepheny Worth covers crime, including missing persons, murders and migrant-related crimes. Send story tips to stepheny.worth@fox.com.
