Pinetop, Ariz. — A California agricultural businessman arrested and charged with the fatal shooting of his estranged wife in Pinetop plans to plead not guilty, according to his attorneys, who also cited ongoing health concerns.
Michael Abatti, 63, of El Centro, California, was arrested Dec. 23 on a charge of first-degree murder stemming from the homicide of his estranged wife, Kerri Ann Abatti, 59.
Deputies with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 9:20 p.m. on Nov. 20 to Kerri’s home off Bruin Way and Branding Iron Loop after receiving a report of a shooting from a family member. Inside the residence, deputies located Kerri suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported for medical treatment but later died from her injuries, authorities said. Investigators subsequently ruled her death a homicide.
Kerri was a longtime member of the Pinetop community with deep family roots in the White Mountains. She was born into the Penrod family and maintained strong local ties to the community she called home. The Penrod family history is deeply woven into the early settlement of the Pinetop–Show Low region, a legacy reflected in historic grave markers at the local cemetery.
The stones commemorate William Lewis Penrod and his wife, Polly Ann, early Mormon pioneers who crossed the plains in the late 19th century and helped establish communities in what is now northeastern Arizona, including the area that became Pinetop. According to family records, Kerri is linked directly to some of the area’s earliest settlers.
The markers stand as a reminder that Kerri’s roots in the White Mountains run deep, spanning generations, and underscore her longstanding family connection to the community where she later returned during her divorce.
Family, friends, and neighbors described her as private and soft-spoken, someone who valued the quiet pace of mountain life and the familiarity of a small town. Kerri played violin and competed in the Miss Navajo County pageant as a teenager. She was loved by all who knew her.
A friend of Kerri’s told Mountain Daily Star that she was “a beautiful person, remembered for her kindness and quiet presence.” “She was a devoted daughter and loved her family.”
Those close to her said she had returned to Pinetop seeking stability and a fresh start following her separation and to help care for her elderly parents.
Pinetop, a small White Mountains community known for its majestic ponderosa pine forests, historic cabins, and close-knit communities, was shaken by the murder. Violent crime of this nature is rare in the area, and news of the shooting spread quickly through the town, made local news, and then stretched across the country.
Detectives served multiple search warrants on Dec. 2 at residences, vehicles, properties, and camp trailers associated with the Abatti family in California. The sheriff’s office said a significant amount of evidence was seized during those searches and remains under analysis.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators believe Michael traveled from California to Pinetop on the day of the shooting, fatally shot Kerri at her home, and then returned to California later that same day.
The drive would have been about a 13-hour round trip, traveling on Interstate 8 through Yuma, Phoenix, Payson, and into Pinetop on SR-260. Or through Globe and into Pinetop. Either way, multiple license plate readers could capture images of a vehicle if the alleged travel occurred.
The gated driveway that leads to the home on Bruin Way, where authorities say Kerri was shot, is a white piped fence, a locked gate, and a long drive that ends with the home being hidden from the cul-de-sac. Two signs read “This home is protected by security.”
Authorities have said the alleged travel Michael took on Nov. 20 is central to their case. However, specific evidentiary details are expected to be addressed during court proceedings and FOIA requests rather than through public statements.
The Imperial County Jail released Michael’s mug shot.
Michael’s attorneys have said he intends to plead not guilty to the charge. Statements from Michael’s defense counsel described him as a devoted family man and community member. They said he has ongoing health issues that require medical attention while in custody.
It’s noted that Abatti survived a serious medical emergency in 2009 that required hospitalization and a medically induced coma. Complicating his case further is his own health history, including a severe bout with flesh-eating bacteria in 2009 that led to a medically induced coma, an incident documented by his college friend, Craig Morgan, in the book “The Morality of Deceit.”
The nonfiction book details the deception involved in a major California water transfer agreement that affected Michael Abattis’ farming business and others who “waged war” for Imperial Valley’s water. The true story follows the farmers’ battle in Imperial Valley to stop the water pact from moving forward. Settled over the waters of the Colorado River, and ultimately, the biggest water heist in U.S. history.
The past illness is not connected to the homicide case, but defense attorneys have cited ongoing health concerns as Michael remains in custody pending extradition.
The Navajo County attorney’s office declined to comment on the defense’s statements outside of court filings.
Michael remains in custody in California pending extradition. Once transported to Navajo County, he is expected to be arraigned in Navajo County Superior Court, where a judge will formally advise him of the charge, address detention or release conditions, and set future court dates. First-degree murder is the most serious homicide charge under Arizona law and carries the possibility of life imprisonment if a defendant is convicted.
As the case moves forward, further details will be released through the court process and via FOIA requests for the media. For now, our small Arizona mountain town continues to grapple with a case that has brought national attention.
