A California agricultural magnate was taken into custody on Tuesday, accused of murdering his wife in a mountain community in Arizona.

The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office identified 63-year-old Michael Abatti as the primary suspect in the killing of his 59-year-old wife, Kerri Ann Abatti.

Authorities responded to the scene of a suspected homicide in Pinetop, Arizona, on November 20 at around 9:20 p.m., discovering Kerri Ann Abatti had died from a gunshot wound. Nearly two weeks later, on December 2, detectives carried out search warrants on multiple locations linked to the Abatti family in El Centro, California, including homes, properties, vehicles, and camping trailers.

Images from the scene showed Michael Abatti being arrested under suspicion of murdering his wife, Kerri Abatti. (Photo by Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

On Tuesday, detectives presented their findings to a Navajo County grand jury, securing an indictment and arrest warrant from the Navajo County Superior Court. Michael was arrested that same day and detained in the Imperial County Jail. He faces charges under Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1105 for first-degree murder and is currently awaiting extradition back to Arizona.

The home of Michael Abatti on Dec. 12, 2025, in El Centro, California. (Gregory Bull/AP Photo)

“We extend our sincere condolences to Kerri’s family and to all those affected by this tragedy,” Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse said in a statement. He thanked those who worked on the case, as well as those who served on the Grand Jury, crediting them for “helping bring justice to the Abatti family.”

Michael and Kerri Abatti lived in El Centro before Kerri left in 2023 for Pinetop-Lakeside, her hometown, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Divorce filings seen by the LA Times reportedly showed that Kerri accused her husband of blocking her attempts to get the full picture of their income and real estate holdings while he made changes to their finances without consulting her or her attorney. She also claimed that she was struggling on the monthly spousal support that the court temporarily awarded her, according to the LA Times.

Agricultural fields in Imperial Valley.

Michael Abatti comes from a long line of farmers and owns one of the largest agricultural operations in the Imperial Valley, according to reports. Additionally, he reportedly served as a member of the Imperial Irrigation District from 2006 to 2010. He grew several crops, including onions, broccoli and cantaloupes, CBS News reported. The outlet added that Michael and Kerri Abatti were married in 1992 and had three children.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.