By Nichola Groom
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A woman who said she found a severed finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili has been arrested and charged with larceny, capping an investigation into a horrifying claim that made headlines and hurt sales at the No. 3 U.S. burger chain.
Reuters Photo
Reuters Photo
Slideshow: Diner Claims Finger Found In Chili
Police Arrest Woman Who Reported Finger in Chili
(AP Video)
Anna Ayala, 39, was arrested on Thursday night at her home in Las Vegas and was in custody in the Clark County Detention Center there, police said.
Ayala said she discovered the finger after spooning up a mouthful of chili at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose, California, on March 22. The charge drew intense publicity and tarnished the image of the Dublin, Ohio-based burger chain.
The arrest was welcomed by Wendy's International Inc., which has said sales at its fast-food restaurants fell significantly in the San Jose area following the incident.
"We're thrilled that an arrest has been made," Tom Mueller, president of the company's North American business, said in a statement.
The larceny charge, which originated in San Jose, was related to the finger incident, but the origin of the finger was still unknown, said San Jose police department spokesman Nick Muyo.
The basis of the charge was not immediately clear, though more information would be given at a 1 p.m. (4 p.m. EDT/2000 GMT) news conference in San Jose, Muyo said.
In the weeks since the incident, Wendy's has insisted that its own investigation found no evidence of any finger or hand accidents among its workers or suppliers. The chain initially offered a $50,000 reward for information about the origin of the finger but doubled the amount last week to $100,000.
Wendy's officials could not immediately be reached on Friday to say if anyone would receive the reward.
Images of the finger tip, released by the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, showed it in two pieces. Health officials said it was probably a woman's finger because it had part of a long, manicured nail.
Suspicion surrounding Ayala arose earlier this month after San Jose police served a search warrant related to the case in a private home in Las Vegas, where she lives. Media reports said Ayala's home was searched.
Publicity surrounding Ayala's history of suing large corporations has also raised questions about her. According to media reports, she has pursued legal claims against restaurant chain El Pollo Loco, General Motors and Goodyear Tire.
Last week Ayala apparently dropped her claim against Wendy's, and the San Jose attorney she hired following the incident confirmed he was no longer representing her.
Wendy's shares were up 20 cents at $40.95 in early afternoon trade on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A woman who said she found a severed finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili has been arrested and charged with larceny, capping an investigation into a horrifying claim that made headlines and hurt sales at the No. 3 U.S. burger chain.
Reuters Photo
Reuters Photo
Slideshow: Diner Claims Finger Found In Chili
Police Arrest Woman Who Reported Finger in Chili
(AP Video)
Anna Ayala, 39, was arrested on Thursday night at her home in Las Vegas and was in custody in the Clark County Detention Center there, police said.
Ayala said she discovered the finger after spooning up a mouthful of chili at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose, California, on March 22. The charge drew intense publicity and tarnished the image of the Dublin, Ohio-based burger chain.
The arrest was welcomed by Wendy's International Inc., which has said sales at its fast-food restaurants fell significantly in the San Jose area following the incident.
"We're thrilled that an arrest has been made," Tom Mueller, president of the company's North American business, said in a statement.
The larceny charge, which originated in San Jose, was related to the finger incident, but the origin of the finger was still unknown, said San Jose police department spokesman Nick Muyo.
The basis of the charge was not immediately clear, though more information would be given at a 1 p.m. (4 p.m. EDT/2000 GMT) news conference in San Jose, Muyo said.
In the weeks since the incident, Wendy's has insisted that its own investigation found no evidence of any finger or hand accidents among its workers or suppliers. The chain initially offered a $50,000 reward for information about the origin of the finger but doubled the amount last week to $100,000.
Wendy's officials could not immediately be reached on Friday to say if anyone would receive the reward.
Images of the finger tip, released by the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, showed it in two pieces. Health officials said it was probably a woman's finger because it had part of a long, manicured nail.
Suspicion surrounding Ayala arose earlier this month after San Jose police served a search warrant related to the case in a private home in Las Vegas, where she lives. Media reports said Ayala's home was searched.
Publicity surrounding Ayala's history of suing large corporations has also raised questions about her. According to media reports, she has pursued legal claims against restaurant chain El Pollo Loco, General Motors and Goodyear Tire.
Last week Ayala apparently dropped her claim against Wendy's, and the San Jose attorney she hired following the incident confirmed he was no longer representing her.
Wendy's shares were up 20 cents at $40.95 in early afternoon trade on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.
