Police identify finger in Wendy's case

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The mysterious finger that a woman said she found in a bowl of Wendy's chili came from an associate of her husband who lost the finger in an industrial accident, police said yesterday.

''The jig is up," Police Chief Rob Davis said. ''The puzzle pieces are beginning to fall into place, and the truth is being exposed."

The discovery of the finger's owner marks a significant break in a case that has confounded authorities for nearly two months, ever since Anna Ayala told police she bit down on the well- manicured, 1Æ-inch fingertip in a mouthful of her steamy chili.

The case became the talk of the Internet and late-night talk shows and spawned numerous bizarre tips and theories about the source of the finger, including one about a woman whose fingertip was bitten off by a spotted leopard kept as a pet.

Authorities said last month that they thought the story was a hoax, and they arrested the 39-year-old Ayala at her home in Las Vegas and charged her with attempted grand larceny for allegedly trying to shake down Wendy's. But whose finger was in the chili remained a mystery.

The owner was traced through a tip made to a Wendy's hot line, Davis said. He said the man lost the finger in December, and authorities ''positively confirmed that this subject was in fact the source of the fingertip." The nature of the industrial accident was not disclosed.

Davis said the Nevada man, whose name was not released, is cooperating. The police chief would not say whether the man was in on the alleged hoax.

Police contend the man gave the finger fragment to Ayala's husband, Jaime Plascencia, who was arrested this month on identity-theft charges unrelated to the Wendy's case.

During the investigation, Wendy's said no employees at the San Jose store were missing fingers, and no suppliers of Wendy's ingredients had reported any finger injuries. Authorities reported that there was no evidence the finger had been cooked, and also said Ayala had a history of filing claims against businesses.

Sergeant Nick Muyo said someone other than the man who lost the finger called in the tip to the hot line.

Calls to an lawyer for Ayala and Plascencia were not immediately returned.

Authorities are considering additional charges against Ayala and her husband, Davis said. ''We are exploring all other options and avenues available to see that those involved in this charade will be investigated," the police chief said.

Wendy's has offered a $100,000 reward and has said it lost millions in sales since Ayala made the contention while visiting her family in San Jose. Dozens of employees at the company's Northern California franchises also have been laid off.

Wendy's has not yet given out the reward. Company spokesman Bob Bertini said officials need to confer with police.

In a statement, the company praised San Jose police and said the latest evidence vindicates its employees.

''We strongly defended our brand and paid a severe price," said Tom Mueller, Wendy's president of North America.