Prominent Calif. Farmer Pleads Not Guilty to Estranged Wife's Murder — and He's Being Held on $5.5 Million Bail By Janelle Griffith

A prominent California farmer charged in the shooting death of his estranged wife was extradited to Arizona and has pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.

Michael Abatti, 63, entered the plea Wednesday, Dec. 31, in Navajo County Superior Court during his first court appearance after being extradited from El Centro, Calif., where he was arrested last month in the killing of Kerri Ann Abatti, 59, the Navajo County Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

She was found dead at their second home in Pinetop, Ariz., where she moved after they separated.

Abatti is being held on a $5.5 million bond in the Navajo County Jail, prosecutors said.

His defense attorneys, Owen Roth and Danni Iredale, tell PEOPLE they have concerns about Abatti’s health and if he is released, he would be continuing his medical treatment and abide by the bond conditions.

“At this time we are asking the public to withhold judgement,” Iredale said. “For decades he’s been a pillar of the community, contributing to charitable causes and he’s entitled to a fair shake in our justice system just as anyone who stands accused of a serious crime is.”

Authorities allege Abatti traveled from El Centro to Pinetop on Nov. 20, carried out the killing and then immediately returned to California.

The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Dec. 23 that searches of “residences, properties, vehicles and camp trailers” associated with the Abatti family in El Centro, Calif., were searched — and that investigators seized “a significant amount of evidence” which subsequently led to Michael Abatti’s arrest.

As for motive, Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse said in a later press conference that he couldn’t speak to exactly what it would be but noted the impending divorce of the couple.

“The only thing that’s glaring that I think everybody already knows, there’s a divorce in place and they weren’t able to come to a resolution,” Clouse said.

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The couple owned Abatti Farms in El Centro, according to the Desert Sun, which obtained copies of their divorce filings. The divorce reportedly came as a surprise to Michael, who claimed Kerri left in August 2023 when he was away on a fishing trip, per the outlet.

A pre-trial conference and release hearing is scheduled for March 17 in Navajo County Superior Court.