as they have apparently solved the case of the mysterious Wendy's Chili finger mystery, thanks to a 'hot tip'.


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The mysterious finger that a woman claimed to have 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 Friday.

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

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 claimed she bit down on the well-manicured, 1 1/2-inch finger 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 believed 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 if the man was in on the alleged hoax.

Police believe 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 had 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.

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

Calls to an attorney for Ayala and Plascencia were not immediately returned. Wendy's did not immediately return a call to its Dublin, Ohio, headquarters.

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 has lost millions in sales since Ayala made the claim while visiting her family in San Jose. Dozens of employees at the company's Northern California franchises also have been laid off.

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finger lickin' stupid

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some fairly sordid tales, rambles, and anecdotes
Hypothetically Speaking * Something More * Cammy Interrupted * An Experimental Vacation * Masked * so..damn..hot * Thank You * My toy, his idea * no.19 Maple Lane * I Have A Surprise For You * Yesterday * In a Quiet Kitchen * help me decide * untitled prose * more untitled prose

I'm so glad I just finished eating before reading this.

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Even though I knew it was a hoax, I forgot all about it and ordered Wendy's chili a couple of weeks ago and as I went to put my first spoonful into my mouth.......I couldn't do it lol.

They were giving away free Blizzards (or Frosty's or whatever their milkshake is called) today. Maybe they should just stop selling chili for a while?

I would have loved to know how she asked her friend to borrow his finger. "Hey, since you won't be needing that anymore, can I borrow it and give you a cut of the profits?"

At least now we now that Wendy's wasn't really giving her the finger...

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Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

I hope she gets jail time for her attempt at extortion!

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Anytime. Anywhere.

I think all they should serve her in prison would be finger food!

And she should for the next ten years have to say after every meal, "That was finger lickin' good" three times out loud so everyone could hear her.

Maybe once a week or so, they could put Wendy's chilli on her prison menu.

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Guilty plea:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe...7_26/?hub=World

She's looking quite rough in that photo. Chili withdrawal mayhaps?

Wendy's says the hoax cost them $2.5 million!