Finger In Wendy’s Chili Hoax Belonged To Asphalt Worker

Anna Ayala has rocketed to unpleasant celebrity status since March 22, when she claimed that she had bitten down on a finger in her bowl of Wendy’s chili in San Jose. News of the finger was quickly picked up by the news media, and Ayala was initially showered with sympathy and apologies from the restaurant, while the situation was simultaneously being thoroughly investigated. Within days, police discovered that no workers anywhere near the chili making process had lost any of their digits, so they turned the investigation toward Ayala herself. After further digging, investigators found at least 13 other cases in which Ayala has filed lawsuits against other business, either in her name or in her children’s names. As the scrutiny deepened, Ayala quickly withdrew her claim against Wendy’s, perhaps hoping that the frenzy of attention would die away and be forgotten. Unfortunately for her, she bit off more than she could chew.

Ayala, 39, was arrested and jailed on suspicion of grand theft, while investigators continued trying to find out where the finger came from, and now they think they know. Apparently the finger belonged to a man who worked in a Las Vegas asphalt maintenance company with Ayala’s husband, James Plascencia, who is in jail awaiting extradition to California on identify-theft charges unrelated to the Wendy’s hoax case. The man with the missing finger was identified by Pat Hogue, an estimator with the asphalt company, who saw a television news story about the Wendy’s chili finger on television. When he saw a photo of Ayala’s husband, he remembered having worked with him, then he recalled an accident that happened on a job they worked together—and then he called police. Hogue told the San Francisco Chronicle that he and Plascencia were both working on a job five months ago, and one of the other workers on the job lost the tip of his finger when it was severed in the tailgate of a truck. Apparently the man gave his severed fingertip to Plascencia for some reason, and it is not known how the finger was preserved or transported from Las Vegas to San Jose. Scientific testing have confirmed that the finger does belong to the man, whose name has not been released, and he is cooperating with authorities.

Ayala and her husband have both been charged with suspicion of grand theft, and authorities are considering additional charges. Police have also said that more arrests are possible. "The puzzle pieces are beginning to fall into place, and the truth is being exposed," said police Chief Rob Davis. "We are exploring all other options and avenues available to see that those involved in this charade will be investigated." But regardless of the outcome for Ayala and her husband, the effect of the scandal on Wendy’s has been nightmarish. Because of the negative publicity, the restaurant has lost millions of dollars in sales, and dozens of employees at the company’s northern California franchises have been laid off. At the restaurant where the bogus claim was made, business immediately dropped by 60 to 70 percent, and even though the hoax has been exposed, business is still off by about 20 percent, according to the marketing firm that owns the restaurant. But hopefully it won’t take long for Californians to get the bad taste out of their mouth and go back to eating at Wendy’s. "We strongly defended our brand and paid a severe price," said Tom Mueller, Wendy's president of North America. "We are extremely proud of our employees and franchisees who have suffered the most, and we are forever grateful to our many customers who have supported us during this difficult time."