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Imperial Valley farmer pleads not guilty in connection to Pinetop murder

Navajo County Sheriff's Office

UPDATE (12:21 PM): According to the Navajo County Attorney's Office, Michael Abatti has entered a not guilty plea during a court appearance Wednesday.

The attorney's office says Abatti is being held in the Navajo County Jail on a bond of $5.5 million.

Abatti will be back in the Navajo County Superior Court for a pre-trial conference and release hearing scheduled for March 17.

HOLBROOK, Ariz. (KYMA) - A well-known Imperial Valley farmer accused of murdering his estranged wife has been extradited to Arizona.

The Navajo County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) shared a picture of 63-year-old Michael Abatti as he was being extradited to Holbrook, Arizona.

Following the extradition, Abatti was then booked into the Navajo County Jail for first-degree murder related to the death of his wife, 59-year-old Kerri Ann Abatti, after she was shot to death in Pinetop, Arizona in November.

Abatti, who was arrested earlier this month, was scheduled to be in court Wednesday morning, and KYMA will have the latest details on his first court appearance.

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