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Woman in Wendy's finger case arrested
The Associated Press ^ | Apr. 22, 2005 | Christina Almeida

Posted on 04/22/2005 6:19:00 AM PDT by Dubya

LAS VEGAS - The woman who claimed she found a finger in her bowl of Wendy's chili last month has been arrested, the latest twist in a bizarre case about how the 1 1/2-inch finger tip ended up in a bowl of fast food.

Anna Ayala was taken into custody late Thursday at her Las Vegas home, police said.

Authorities would not provide details until a news conference Friday in San Jose, Calif. - the city where Ayala claimed she bit down on the finger in a mouthful of her steamy stew.

Ayala's 18-year-old son, Guadalupe Reyes, said he had gone to the store around 9 p.m. when he got a phone call from a friend who was back at the Las Vegas home.

"We rushed back and she was already gone," Reyes said.

Reyes said he had no other details and was waiting to hear from his mother.

Ohio-based Wendy's International Inc. did not immediately return a call Friday.

Ayala's claim that she found the finger tip, complete with a well-manicured nail, on March 22 initially drew sympathy. But when police and health officials failed to find any missing digits among the workers involved in the restaurant's supply chain, suspicion fell on Ayala, and her story has become a late-night punch line.

Ayala hired a lawyer and filed a claim against the Wendy's franchise owner, Fresno-based JEM Management. But after police searched her home in Las Vegas and continued to question her family, she dropped the lawsuit threat, saying the whole situation was just too stressful.

"Lies, lies, lies, that's all I am hearing," Ayala said after police started questioning her. "They should look at Wendy's. What are they hiding? Why are we being victimized again and again?"

As it turns out, Ayala has a litigious history. She has filed claims against several corporations, including a former employer and General Motors, though it is unclear from court records whether she received any money. She said she got $30,000 from El Pollo Loco after her 13-year-old daughter got sick at one of the chain's Las Vegas-area restaurants. El Pollo Loco officials say she did not get a dime.

Earlier Thursday, Wendy's International Inc. announced it had ended its internal investigation, saying it could find no credible link between the finger and the restaurant chain.

Sales have dropped at franchises in Northern California, forcing layoffs and reduced hours, the company said. Wendy's also has hired private investigators, set up a hot line for tips and offered a $100,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to the finger's original owner. Associated Press writers Josh Dubow in San Francisco and Joe Cavaretta in Las Vegas contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: wendys
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1 posted on 04/22/2005 6:19:03 AM PDT by Dubya
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To: Dubya

A win against those who perpetuate tort extortion.


2 posted on 04/22/2005 6:21:03 AM PDT by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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To: Dubya; mikrofon
Time for Wendy's to give her the finger. < /lame >
3 posted on 04/22/2005 6:21:14 AM PDT by martin_fierro (Chat is my milieu)
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To: Dubya
... oopsie !
4 posted on 04/22/2005 6:21:22 AM PDT by tomkat
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To: Dubya

Something is going on though I cant put my finger on it


5 posted on 04/22/2005 6:21:55 AM PDT by amosmoses (The just shall live by faith)
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To: Dubya

Wendy's should take off her fingers, one joint at a time.


6 posted on 04/22/2005 6:23:15 AM PDT by dfwgator (Minutemen: Just doing the jobs that American politicians won't do.)
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To: Dubya

We knew this was coming. I don't know if the DNA test has come back yet, but I remember speculation that the finger may be from a recently deceased relative (aunt?).


7 posted on 04/22/2005 6:25:00 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Proud infidel since 1970.)
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To: Dubya
"Lies, lies, lies, that's all I am hearing," Ayala said after police started questioning her. "They should look at Wendy's. What are they hiding? Why are we being victimized again and again?"

Okay, Captain Queeg. Sheesh, it's pretty obvious that the legal system has no problem hammering businesses, so her cries of victimhood and coverup are the biggest farce ever.

8 posted on 04/22/2005 6:26:43 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Proud infidel since 1970.)
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To: Dubya

Who gave her the finger in the first place?


9 posted on 04/22/2005 6:29:09 AM PDT by Piquaboy (22 year veteran of the Army, Air Force and Navy, Pray for all our military .)
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To: Dubya

Did it look like this?

10 posted on 04/22/2005 6:29:40 AM PDT by TruthShallSetYouFree (Abortion is to family planning what bankruptcy is to financial planning.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I love this story. Can't wait to get more details about where she got the finger. Wendy's needs to make her life miserable and keep her penniless for the rest of her sorry life.


11 posted on 04/22/2005 6:31:43 AM PDT by demkicker (Support DeLay, the Hammer, and the filibuster ban on judicial nominations!)
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To: Dubya
Wendy's also ...... set up a hot line for tips....

MMMMmmmmm! If they're going to be in the chili, of course the tips should should be hot.

12 posted on 04/22/2005 6:37:28 AM PDT by Reo
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To: Dubya
Who finally fingered the perp?.....
13 posted on 04/22/2005 6:40:41 AM PDT by Red Badger (Entrepreneurs find a need and fill it. Politicians create a need and fill it........)
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To: Reo
set up a hot line for tips ....

Finger tips?.......

14 posted on 04/22/2005 6:42:00 AM PDT by Red Badger (Entrepreneurs find a need and fill it. Politicians create a need and fill it........)
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To: Dubya

She thought she could get away wih this one too, but all her previous cons were done before the age of blogging.


15 posted on 04/22/2005 6:47:44 AM PDT by Rennes Templar ("The future ain't what it used to be".........Yogi Berra)
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To: Dubya
F Excellent!
16 posted on 04/22/2005 6:53:45 AM PDT by southernnorthcarolina (UNC Tar Heels: NCAA Basketball Champions 1957/1982/1993/2005)
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To: Red Badger

Paging Little Stevie Wonder...


17 posted on 04/22/2005 6:54:56 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Dubya
"Why are we being victimized again and again?"

This lady needs to run, not walk, to the nearest Democratic headquarters. With a mindset like that, she's got a very bright future working for the party of victimization.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

18 posted on 04/22/2005 6:57:08 AM PDT by Mike Bates (Irish Alzheimer's victim: I only remember the grudges.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
He's not Little anymore.....Gawd! I can remember when he WAS!........I feel SOOOOOOOO OLD now........
19 posted on 04/22/2005 6:58:59 AM PDT by Red Badger (Entrepreneurs find a need and fill it. Politicians create a need and fill it........)
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To: Dubya

I wonder if this means that they found the previous owner of the finger.

I knew this story didn't sound right from the beginning.


20 posted on 04/22/2005 6:59:07 AM PDT by B Knotts (Viva il Papa!)
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