A woman accused of lying about finding a human finger in a bowl of chili at a Wendy's fast food restaurant was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, adding to the theft counts she already faces.
Meanwhile, a woman provided more details about how the finger may have been lost. She said her son lost the finger in a work accident and gave it to the suspect's husband to settle a US$50 debt.
"My son is the victim in this," Brenda Shouey told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Anna Ayala, 39, who already faces attempted grand larceny and grand larceny charges, told police she discovered the fingertip on March 22 while dining with family at a Wendy's in San Jose.
Prosecutor David Boyd added the conspiracy charge during a hearing on Wednesday, saying Ayala "conspired with her husband and possibly others to commit a crime that involves manipulation, lies and most importantly deceit for no other reason than to line her own pockets."
San Jose police announced last week the finger was obtained from an associate of James Plascencia, Ayala's husband, but they have refused to identify him because he is cooperating in the investigation.
Shouey said her son, Brian Paul Rossiter, 36, of Las Vegas, lost part of his finger when his gloved hand was caught in a mechanical truck lift in December at a paving company where he worked with Plascencia.
Shouey said her son had showed the severed finger to co-workers in a macho display of humor and was desperate for cash when he gave it away "to this character, James."
"My son is a happy-go-lucky guy. He thought it was cute to show" the severed finger, Shouey said. "It's like a man thing."
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