PINETOP, AZ (AZFamily/AP) — A newly released autopsy report is offering the first detailed look at the murder of a Pinetop woman, allegedly shot by her estranged husband, a California farming tycoon.
The report released by the Coconino County Health and Human Services Medical Examiner’s Office sheds new light on a case that has otherwise been shrouded in secrecy for months, hampered by sealed court records and a patchwork of law enforcement agencies handling different pieces of the investigation.
What happened the night of Nov. 20
According to the report, Kerri Ann Abatti was shot and killed on the night of Nov. 20, 2025, at her Pinetop home, near Bruin Way and Branding Iron Loop, to the east of State Route 260.
Abatti’s nephew heard a loud sound and found her unconscious on her kitchen floor, the report said. He called 911 and told dispatchers she had stopped breathing.
Investigators found a hole in a window near where Abatti was found and determined the shot likely came through the window from the yard. She had been shot in the head.
First responders suspected gunshot trauma due to the severity of her head injuries. She died at the hospital after resuscitation efforts failed.
A tycoon accused of murder
The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office named Abatti’s estranged husband, 63-year-old Michael Abatti, as the main suspect. He was arrested on suspicion of her murder in December.
Michael and Kerri, described by authorities as “generational farmers” from El Centro, California, were married for about 30 years and had three adult children.
Kerri had been living alone in Pinetop after separating from Michael two or three years earlier. She had filed for divorce, with proceedings pending in California at the time of her death.
Deputies believe Michael traveled from California to Pinetop on Nov. 20, shot and killed Kerri, then returned to California in the early morning hours of Nov. 21.
Detectives secured the home for several days while canvassing the neighborhood and interviewing witnesses, neighbors and family members.
Navajo County Sheriff Clouse said the pending divorce appeared to be a factor but stopped short of naming a motive.
Who is Michael Abatti?
Michael Abatti comes from a long line of farmers in the crop-rich Imperial Valley, which is the biggest user of Colorado River water and known for growing leafy greens, melons and forage crops.
His grandfather, an Italian immigrant, was among the region’s early settlers, and his father helped start the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association.
Michael Abatti served on the board of the powerful Imperial Irrigation District from 2006 to 2010.
In late December, Michael entered a not guilty plea in Navajo County Superior Court for the charge of first-degree murder. Court records show the prosecution recently filed a series of supplemental disclosures, which is common as an investigation continues to develop ahead of trial.
A combination of sealed court documents and a wide variety of involved agencies has slowed the spread of information on the case, which remains ongoing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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