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Rancher's Wife Murdered After 'Measly' Divorce Allowance
5 Dec
Summary
- Wife shot dead months after leaving millionaire rancher husband.
- She received a 'measly' $5,000 monthly allowance during divorce.
- Husband's California home raided in connection with murder investigation.
The murder investigation into Kerri Abatti's death is intensifying, with police raiding her estranged husband Michael's California home. Kerri, 59, was shot dead at her Arizona property on November 20, 2025. Divorce filings exposed a stark financial disparity, with Kerri alleging Michael, a prominent rancher, provided a 'measly' $5,000 monthly allowance despite owning millions in assets.
Months before her death, Kerri left the couple's 31-year marriage and struggled on a tight budget while managing a 14-acre homestead. She detailed a significant lifestyle decrease, going from luxury travel and five-star accommodations to managing utilities and heating her home with wood. Her requests for a modest allowance increase were met with resistance, with Michael claiming financial losses.
The Navajo County Sheriff's office is treating Kerri's death as a homicide. While Michael Abatti has not been arrested or charged, the raid on his El Centro property, where a gun safe was seized, indicates he remains a focus of the investigation. The couple's extensive farming and real estate empire spans California and Wyoming.
