San Jose police trace owner of Wendy's finger

The mystery of a finger a woman claimed she found in a bowl of Wendy's chilli came from a friend of her husband who lost it in an industrial accident, police confirmed. "The jig is up. The puzzle pieces are beginning to fall into place," police chief Rob Davis said.

The mystery of a finger a woman claimed she found in a bowl of Wendy's chilli came from a friend of her husband who lost it in an industrial accident, police confirmed. "The jig is up. The puzzle pieces are beginning to fall into place," police chief Rob Davis said.

The case confounded detectives for two months, ever since Anna Ayala, 39, claimed she bit on a finger in a mouthful of chilli in a Wendy's in San Jose.

It led to bizarre theories about its source, including a woman whose fingertip was bitten off by a pet leopard.

Last month, police arrested Ayala at her Las Vegas home on charges her claim had cost Wendy's millions of dollars in lost sales. Dozens of employees have been laid off.

The finger's owner was traced through a tip-off made to a Wendy's hotline. Police said the unnamed man, who lost the finger in December, did not make the call, but is co-operating with police.

They believe he gave the finger to Ayala's husband, Jaime Plascencia, who was arrested this month on identity-theft charges unrelated to the Wendy's case. Mr Davis said on Friday police are considering further charges against the couple. He said: "We are exploring all other options available to see those involved in this charade will be investigated."

Wendy's spokesman Bob Bertini said they will be talking to police to determine who should receive a $100,000 reward.