HOLBROOK, Ariz. (AP) — Investigators have declined to reveal a suspected motive in the shooting death of the estranged wife of a prominent California farmer in eastern Arizona, but they say the couple’s long-running divorce has come up in nearly every interview with family and friends.
Michael Abatti, 63, was arrested last week in El Centro, Calif., after Kerri Ann Abatti, 59, was shot and killed inside her family’s vacation home in Pinetop, Ariz., where she moved after splitting from her husband.
Investigators discussed the case at a news conference Monday, saying Michael Abati traveled from El Centro to Pinetop on Nov. 20 to carry out the killings and returned to California early the next morning. They declined to say what happened at the Pinetop home in the final days of Khairy Abati’s life.
“There are going to be different theories,” Navajo County Sheriff David Krause said of the motive. “I think the only notable thing that everyone already knew was that they were divorced and they couldn’t come to a resolution. But I can’t say exactly what the motivation for the divorce was.”
Owen Ross, one of Michael Abati’s attorneys, said his client surrendered to law enforcement, agreed to be extradited to Arizona and remains innocent under the law. “Our client is in his 60s and has serious health issues, and we remain concerned about his health,” Ross said. “We ask the public to respect his privacy and constitutional rights and reiterate that this case will be decided based on the evidence of the jury.”
Kerri, a descendant of early Latter-day Saint settlers who helped found Pinetop in the 1880s, had filed for divorce and proceedings were pending in California at the time of her death.
On December 2, authorities searched his home in a remote area of Southern California as part of an investigation into his wife’s death.
Michael Abatti grew up in the crop-rich Imperial Valley, the largest user of Colorado River water and known for growing leafy greens, melons and forage crops. His grandfather, an Italian immigrant, was one of the area’s early settlers, and his father helped found the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association.
Michael Abatti served on the board of directors of the powerful Imperial Irrigation District from 2006 to 2010.
The Abatis, who married in 1992 and had three children, had a falling out over financial matters. Kerry told the court the couple had lived a prosperous life during more than three decades of marriage. They own homes in three states, vacation abroad and send their children to private schools.
Kerri initially received $5,000 per month in temporary spousal support. She later sought a raise, citing difficulty maintaining her standard of living and maintaining her property in Arizona. She is also seeking an additional $100,000 in legal fees, according to court documents.
Michael Abatti eventually agreed to increase the benefit to $6,400 a month, although he argued in a court filing that poor farming years had reduced his income. He blamed market changes favoring Ukrainian crops, rising transport costs and bad weather.
