Josh Kolsrud Weighs In On Extradition Hearing Of Murder Suspect Michael Abadi With Channel 3 News

What’s Happening With Michael Abadi’s Extradition Back To Arizona?

Phoenix News 3 is tracking the case of Michael Abadi, a well-known California farmer accused of shooting and killing his wife, Kerianne, in Pinetop just before Thanksgiving. Investigators say evidence points to Abadi driving from Imperial County, California to Arizona, committing the murder, and then returning to California, where he was later arrested in El Centro. While he’s expected to be sent back to Navajo County to face murder charges, the big question right now is timing—when will he actually appear in an Arizona courtroom?

Josh Kolsrud Offers Insight To Channel 3 About The Extradition Process

Defense Attorney Josh Kolsrud (not involved in the case) explained that an extradition hearing isn’t about proving guilt or innocence—it’s mainly a procedural step to confirm the suspect’s identity and ensure the right person is being transferred to the requesting state. As Kolsrud put it, the hearing is essentially about “affirming to the court the identity of the defendant in the case.”

• Extradition hearings focus on identity, not the underlying murder allegations
• The court’s role is limited: confirm the person in custody is the person Arizona wants

How Long Could It Take—And What Could Slow It Down?

Kolsrud also offered a realistic window for how quickly extradition can happen, saying it’s usually “days, maybe weeks, but certainly not months.” He noted that in his experience, most defendants waive (skip) the extradition hearing to avoid delays. But if Abadi chooses to challenge extradition, Kolsrud says prosecutors may need additional steps—like fingerprinting and possibly DNA comparison—to confirm identity, which could stretch out the process.

• Typical timeline: days to weeks, not months
• Most defendants waive extradition, but a challenge can delay things
• A dispute could trigger extra verification like fingerprints and DNA comparisons