Selects: The Great Finger in the Wendy’s Chili Caper | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

Hey everybody, happy Saturday morning or. whenever this finds you. Uh Chuck here. introducing this week's selects episode. and we're going to replay the great. finger in the Wendy's Chili Caper. episode from January 10th, 2019. Uh there was a finger found in Wendy's. chili and this is that story. Enough. said.

Welcome to Stuff You Should Know, a. production [music] of iHeart Radio. [music]. Hey, and welcome to the podcast. I'm. Josh Clark and there's Charles W. Chuck. Bryant and there's Jerry and this is the. stuff you should know Chili Caper. edition. Corporate investigations, Las Vegas, San Jose, Chile. Yeah. Yeah. And that means we get to use our special. investigator nicknames. Seattle [music]. Clark, Portland Bryant, and San.

Francisco, Jerry Roland. That's not bad. I would have chosen Tony Kayan for me. >> Yeah, that was uh a very hamfisted way. to set up an inshow mention of our three. shows next week. >> Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> That was actually lost on me, Chuck. >> Next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It's apparently lost on the Pacific. Northwest because no one's coming, right? >> Next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, we will be in Seattle, Portland, and San. Francisco. Yeah.

>> On January 15th, 16th, and 17th at the. Moore Theater, Revolution Hall, and the. Castro for Sketchfest. And uh you have a. uh End of the World live Friday night in. San Francisco. >> Mhm. >> And I have a movie crush live on. Saturday afternoon in San Francisco. >> I also have a Brooklyn End of the World. one, too, on the 24th, just FYI. Hey, let's not get carried away here. >> Okay. All right. [laughter]. >> Uh but those are the shows we have. coming up, everyone. So, uh come on out. There's still great tickets left at all. three of these venues.

>> Uh and all five probably. I don't I'm. not sold out for Movie Crush. No, I'm. not either. No. >> So, uh and especially those uh into the. world of movie crush shows, your best. chance to hang out and talk to us. personally because they're more intimate. venues. >> Like I wear a neglige. [laughter]. Well, Bizzy Phillips is there, so I'm. going to have on my my dinner jacket. >> Oh, very nice. >> Uh trying to impress her with my tuxedo. look, [laughter]. >> which is not impressive. >> Tuxedo and jeans is like it's a it's a. look. >> So, get all the information at.

sysklive.com. uh or for the um Sketchfest shows, just. go to the SF Sketchfest site and come. out and support us, everyone, and shake. our hand, pat us on the back, or spit on. our shoes. >> Don't do that. Don't do that. >> Spit between our shoes. Just make it. close, you know. >> Yeah. If you really hate us, spit. between our shoes. >> There you go. Yeah, that's going to end. up on a t-shirt. I have a feeling. >> All right, let's talk about Chili. Fingers. >> All right, so um back in 2005, actually,

let's get in the wayback machine and go. watch this thing go down. Way back. machine just for this short distance. >> Yeah. I mean, it's not like we can walk. to 2005. This is actually kind of great though. because when you're 48 almost. >> Mhm. >> to go back uh 13 years. >> I want to go back up and do it all over. >> So all of a sudden I'm 35 which I.

thought was old. >> Yeah. >> But man, I'd love to be 35 right now. >> Uh I'm pretty happy with 42. I've got to. say I'm not quite I'm not quite happy. with the kind of catcher mitt that my. face is turning into, but everything. else I'm I'm pretty glad about. >> Yeah, just wait. Just wait. >> Okay. >> Just wait 48 happens. >> Oh no. >> You're staring down the barrel of 50 and. you're going, "Geez, I only got like 15. more good years left.". >> That is so not true. Don't you know 50. is the new 35?

[sighs] Is it? You know what's funny is. all the people in this Wendy's in San. Jose we just showed up at are looking at. us like what are these guys talking. about? >> I know. They're like, "Get your Superbar. order underway.". >> Yeah. They're like, "Why don't you guys. just be quiet and listen to Chumba. Womba?" Like everybody else is right. now. >> I don't think they had Super Bar in. 2005. That was more like the 80s and. 90s, but still. >> What was it? Super Bar. >> Yeah. Don't you don't remember that? >> No. >> Wendy's in the 80s. >> Oh, yeah. at the Super Bar, which was. this weird combination of tacos and.

pasta and salad. >> and baked potatoes. >> and baked potatoes. All just like. whatever you want. >> I forgot all about that, man. What a. good idea. >> Yeah, the super bar was a weird weird. thing, but I ate it. >> So, there is no super bar anymore, but. there is, if you look over there, there's a woman named Anna or Anna. Ayala. >> Mhm. and she is sitting with her. in-laws, her her mother-in-law, her. father-in-law, her brother-in-law, maybe. a couple other people. Um, and she is.

about to bite down into a bite of. Wendy's chili that she has just ordered. at the San Jose um Wendy's downtown San. Jose Wendy's, I believe, on March 22nd, 2005. >> Yeah. She's in her her late 30s. It's. cold in San Jose. >> Mhm. Uh, she's from Las Vegas, so she's. not used to this. >> She's actually, so she's from San Jose. originally, but she's moved to Vegas a. couple years ago for. >> sure. She she has lived in Las Vegas. lately and has been warming in the sun.

there, >> right? >> And uh is like, I don't like this cold. I'm going to order some chili cuz that. Wendy's chili is so so good. >> It's meaty and warm, as Ed puts it. >> That's right. And so she sits down. She's eating this thing and then all of. a sudden, look at her. She's just. >> she's she's upset, Josh. >> She's gone berserk. Everybody at the. table's got their hands up like, "Whoa, settle down." And she's like just. pointed at her chili, her chili cup, which she's reached the bottom of. And.

she's saying that there's a finger in. her chili. >> Yeah. >> That she just bit into a finger. >> Yeah. She looks like she's about to. puke. >> Um I I didn't see her vomit. >> I didn't either, >> but in court later, she would say she. did. Mhm. [clears throat]. >> So maybe we can be key witnesses, >> right? She's going up to the the counter. demanding. I think she just said to one. of the cashiers, "Who did you kill to. get this finger?" Which is a weird thing. to say. >> Yeah. She's yelling at everyone else in. the restaurant with chili, saying,

"Don't eat that." Y. >> there's fingers. That's finger chili. >> That's right. Finger chili. No one wants. cha cha cha. She's starting to try to. start a chant, I believe. >> And there's only one guy that's still. eating. And he said, "Yeah, I ordered. the finger chili.". >> Right. He said, "I think you got mine. So, she's freaking out. Things are. starting to go down. There's a hub in. the restaurant. Everyone's got every She. has everyone's attention. She's saying. that she just found a finger in her. chili. The people at the counter are. incredulous. They're kind of poking at. it a little bit. They're saying, "I.

think it's a vegetable or whatever.". >> Yeah, it looks like a carrot to me, lady. >> Right. A very pale carrot with a. fingernail on it. And it's the. fingernail really that does the trick. After this point, it becomes clear to. everyone in the Wendy's that there is a. finger that this woman just found in her. chili. There's a fingernail on it. It's. about an inch and a half of finger from. the tip to well about an inch and a half. down and she just bit down on it and she. found it in her chili. So, the Wendy's. employees react swiftly. They dump out. all the chili.

>> They call they call the police. >> The the police come by and they say, "Well, this is a health department kind. of thing really." And the police leave. and the uh Wendy's employees call the. owners of the franchise, JM Management, and they say, "Don't do anything to that. finger. Put it in the freezer and we'll. be there in the morning." And at this. point, Anna Ala leaves or Anna Ayala, this is going to be very difficult. Um. because I want to say Ala. Yeah. >> She leaves. Her families are taking her. family members are taking pictures of.

the location and a huge national story. has just begun. By 10:00 that night, this happened about 7. By 10:00 on the. local news, there's an unconfirmed. report of a woman who found a finger in. her chili at Wendy's. >> And Dave Thomas gets indigestion. immediately. >> Well, he'd been dead a few years, so. that'd be phenomenal. >> I thought he was alive then. >> He died in 2002. >> Okay. Well, he's rolling over in his. grave. >> But by this time, you know, he'd really.

kind of made Wendy's like a really loved. and respected, you know, restaurant. because everybody thought Dave Thomas. was so great. >> Well, yeah. And as are we uh out of the. wayback machine? Are we done play. acting? >> I was serious, but yes, we are. [laughter]. >> Well, you were [clears throat] seriously. play acting. You were Lawrence Olivier. Maybe. >> I was delusional. I thought we were in. that window. >> Okay. So, uh, immediate, almost. immediately, word starts to spread on. the news, obviously,

>> and as you might well imagine, the. Wendy's restaurant chain, especially in. the in the area in the Bay Area near San. Jose, um, it really starts to take a a. business hit. >> As you would imagine, people are not. like, "Oh, they found a finger in some. Wendy's chili. That really reminds me. how much I love Wendy's chili." All. right, [laughter]. >> let's go out and get a hot cup. >> Right. >> Uh cuz they are sort of famous for their. chili. >> Oh yeah. I mean like if you want chili.

at a fast food restaurant, you're going. to Wendy's because you're not going to. find it anywhere else. They really. planted their flag on the chili market. >> Yeah. The old A&Ws had pretty good. chili. >> Oh yeah. But you wanted that on a on a. dog. >> Sure. And and of course the Midwest. still very famous for their Skyline. chili. >> Mhm. >> Uh which is delicious. Is that I guess. that'd be fast food, huh? >> Yeah. I think they actually have Skyline. Chili Restaurants. >> Yeah. Yeah. Which is good. It's quite. good. >> It is.

>> Um but if you're going to go just about. anywhere in the US and you have a. hankering for chili, you're going to go. to Wendy's. But like you said, sales. started to plummet. And not just like. chili sales, all Wendy's sales started. to take a hit, especially in the Bay. Area, like you said, especially in in. the western United States. Um, people. were just kind of grossed out by this. whole idea. Um, but like I said, the the. the cops had shown up and decided it was. a health inspector's or a health. department's jam. They didn't really.

have anything to do with it. So the next. morning, u the owners of the franchise, the county health inspector, they showed. up. I think they contacted Wendy's. communications department and the gears. were starting to move. There was. something that they had to deal with and. that was basically three-fold. It was. really twofold as far as Wendy's was. concerned at first, but the third one. crept in pretty quickly. Whose finger. was this? >> Sure. >> How did the finger get into the chili?

>> Yeah. >> And then after that, who was this woman. who who found the finger in her chili? And the so Wendy's really started to. focus on the first two because um one. thing this whole the way that this whole. thing played out the cops were very. handsoff at first. They felt this was a. a health department issue, a public. health issue and not a police issue and. basically said you need to go figure. this out yourself, Wendy's. And so. Wendy's had to do a lot of extra leg. work that they probably wouldn't have.

had to do had the cops decided. immediately that it was a criminal. issue. But in the cop's defense, it. didn't appear immediately to be a. criminal issue. It appeared to be like a. woman found a finger in her chili at. Wendy's. And that's gross. So go figure. it out, Wendy's. >> Yeah. Uh I also bet there was like one. guy who literally ate went to that. specific Wendy's to get chili the next. day and [clears throat] was like, "Dude, that's the last place you're going to. find a finger in your chili now.". >> Right. Yeah. >> Like there's no way it would happen. again. What are the chances?

>> Yeah. Like flying on an airline right. after they have a [laughter] crash. He's like, "You go to Burger King, you're going to get a finger.". >> They're going to purposely give you a. finger, man. Don't be naive. >> All right. So, did you introduce uh. Police Chief Rob Davis yet? >> Not yet. >> All right. So, this is the guy, San Jose. Police Chief, that would ultimately uh. lead this investigation. >> Later on, though, after Wendy's did a. lot of the initial leg work for him. >> Yes. He would lead the investigation. >> Mhm. and he uh he basically.

was like, I got to find out who this. lady is because Wendy's they're. operating on the down low here. Uh and. this this is a sort of a and apparently. this is this case is taught in in. classes now about like how to handle a. crisis as a corporation. >> Yeah, I've seen I've seen it criticized. I've also seen it held up as a as an. example of what to do, too. >> Well, I mean, here's what Wendy's can. and can't do. What they can do is. quietly throw a lot of money at this.

investigation on their own. >> Mhm. >> Uh and then publicly what they can't do. is is start to go after this lady and be. too sort of um dismissive of this. finger. Like there's no way lady's nuts. She's whatever. She's after money. Like. you can't do that as a public facing. company. You have to be doing all your. due diligence sort of quietly. And they. really were. >> They really were. So how how about this. dude? Let's take a break and then we'll. come back and we'll talk about the. investigation that Wendy started. How.

about that? >> All right. [music]. All. >> [music]. [music].

>> right, Chuck. So, like you said, Wendy's. can't just be like, "That lady's a liar. There's no way that's our finger." Um, they had to basically operate in the. background. They couldn't appear like. they were obstructing the police. investigation. They couldn't appear like. they were smearing uh Anna Ayala, especially because the early reports. were very sympathetic to this woman, too. Everybody was very grossed out by. this. >> Sure. >> Um but at the same time, they had they. had to deal with this issue and they had. to get to the bottom of whose finger. this was and where the finger came from.

>> Yeah. And so the obvious first place to. start is the restaurant itself. Uh the. employees there the the very obvious. first place to start is to see if anyone. was missing a finger. >> Sure. And that's what they did. They. said, "Show us your hands.". >> Yeah. Everyone looked at the everyone's. fingers. They were all there and they. went, "All right, so far so good.". >> Uh they would eventually uh put everyone. on staff through a polygraph test. Um. which they all passed. Uh they would. obviously then they would go to up the.

supply chain, >> right, >> to see if this thing might have cuz you. know these things happened. Um, >> yeah, rarely they do though. >> Well, I I found five other cases of. fingers in fast food. >> that were that were legitimate. >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, wow. >> So, it happens up the supply chain. >> You know, it there can be an industrial. accident that leaves a finger in a bag. of lettuce greens or something. >> and that might eventually find its way. to a Wendy's super bar. >> Oh my god. >> You know, it doesn't happen much.

>> I don't I wouldn't be too freaked out. >> I'm still freaked out. We'll we'll go. over those at the end. Um, >> but they're going up the supply chain. They're really doing their due. diligence. They can't find they offer a. reward at first of 50 grand, later. 100red grand. >> Well, they set up Yeah. a hotline for. tips. >> Uh, but they're they're basically as. time is going on becoming more and more. confident that they did not have a. finger in that chili, >> right, >> by their own fault. They they traced the. chili ingredients to seven different.

suppliers and they got documentation. from all seven suppliers that nobody at. their companies had suffered any kind of. finger injury at any any recent time. And also like you said, no one at the. store, no one at any of the nearby. stores had suffered any finger injury, let alone an amputation. Um a and so. Wendy's was like this this didn't come. from us. This didn't come from inside. our store. Um, and they also they kind. of ran a a simultaneous forensic.

investigation as well. They hired a. woman named Dr. Lynn Bates who's the CEO. of a company called Alteeka out of. Manhattan, Kansas. And if you are. looking for. um evidence or study of a body part that. was found in food, you go to Dr. Lynn. Espates and Alteeka because they are. they engage in forensic food microscopy. That's what they do is their that's. their bread and butter is f is I is is. studying body parts found in food and.

she'd been doing it since 1986. So. Wendy's went to her and said here is a. piece of this finger. Was this finger. cooked in this chili? Whose finger is. it? She's like I can't tell you whose. finger it is, but I can tell you that. there is no indication that this finger. was cooked for 3 hours in chili at 170°. It just wasn't. So that was a that. combined with the the Wendy's no Wendy's. employer or suppliers employers missing. a finger that told Wendy's everything.

they need to know that they were being. defrauded. >> Yeah. And you would think just grab a. fingerprint uh police force. Uh, and. they they weren't able to they weren't. able to they they said if they had found. a hand that they might could literally. look and compare. >> fingerprints, but they they didn't get a. good enough print off it to uh to do a. legitimate database search. >> Right. Right. They just had to sit. around and wait for that hand to show up. >> because that thing had been cooking in. chili for 3 hours. It had not been.

cooked in chili for three hours. That's. right. >> At any rate, um, so Wendy's knew what. was going on. Now, they had to go to the. cops and say, "We're being defrauded.". Not only did they have the the search. for the missing finger investigation. internally, and they hired Lynn Bates to. to uh do forensic work on the finger. itself, they also hired a detective to. start looking around at Anna Ayala. And. the detective turned up some very. interesting stuff about her.

>> Yeah. He was like, "Wait a minute. This. woman has filed at least 13 civil. lawsuits, some against major. corporations. And they he probably could. have stopped there. >> and Wendy's would have just been like. >> Dave Thomas from the grave would have. said see there. she's no good. >> That's a that's a good Dave Thomas. impression. Although I think he would. have said like she should still get the. benefit of the doubt. >> Oh, I don't know man. when you've when. someone is this uh has a pattern of.

latigious behaviors like this. >> Well, maybe he finished with prove me. wrong. [laughter]. >> Uh one there were a couple of notable. ones um that it's it's sort of uh. frustratingly hard to find information. Um she claimed that she won a $30,000. settlement from El Poo Loco from medical. bills from her daughter getting sick. from Salmonella. >> El Poo Loco has always been on record. saying never happened. We did not give. that lady a dime. >> Right. >> Uh GM, she sued GM because the front uh.

wheel of her her car came off and there. was an accident and uh that suit was. dismissed with prejudice. Uh when she. fired her lawyer was a no-show in court. >> Oh, is that what that means? >> No, no, no. With prejudice means you. can't bring it back. >> Oh, okay. >> So, you can't you she can't say, "Well, like, well, I didn't show up and my. lawyer was bad, so let's do this again.". >> Okay, I got you. I guess you. >> So basically it it was dead in the. water. So she sued a former employer for.

sexual harassment. I'm not even going to. comment on that one cuz I have no idea. That could very well have been. legitimate. >> That one struck me as possibly. legitimate, but she dropped it. >> Right. She lawyered up immediately with the. chili finger and everything made uh. Chief Rob Davis very suspicious. >> Mhm. Uh, and then this this guy that. lived with uh her family named Ken Bono. or Bono. What would you say? Bono. >> I've been saying Bono. It hasn't even.

occurred to me. It could be Bono. >> Ken Bono. >> Maybe he's related to Bono. >> Kin Bono cuz the cops are starting to. ask questions at this point. They do. official investigations. They search her. house. Mhm. >> She claims that they held a gun to her. head, ransacked her home, and like. abused her daughter, >> which is quite a charge for a finger. chili uh house investigation. >> There's a picture of her and her. daughter in the driveway talking to a. reporter, and her daughter's got like. her arm in a sling, but like the kind of.

sling you just go buy at the at the um. drugstore. >> Yeah. So, this was a guy who lived uh. Bono lived with their family. And when. he's being investigated by the cops, uh. he said that this finger came from our. aunt, our our deceased aunt. It's her. finger, [snorts] right? Which is a weird. thing to say, especially because Anna. Ayala said, "All of my aunts are alive. I don't know what this guy's talking. about even though he lives in my house.".

>> Yeah. What was he was he trying to get. money? I don't know what the part I. can't figure out. >> I couldn't find much on that guy. Um I. don't know what the deal was. I also. just saw references to a rumor that the. media had been reporting on that it was. her dead aunt's finger. So, um I didn't. see how it came from him or what he was. trying to do with that. But that's that. was a thing. But that was just kind of. like a little side thread that I think. also made the cops a little more. suspicious, too. Like that's just a. weird thing to say, even jokingly.

>> Yeah. But they did actually get well. while it didn't lead to the uh whose. finger it was that tip line did yield. some stuff at first. Right. >> So yeah. So like you said Wendy's set up. a tip line a hotline that you could call. in and what they were looking for. specifically ostensibly was whose finger. it was. That's what they wanted. information. The owner of the finger. Um. but they were taking any and all tips. that people called in. And they started. out offering 50 grand like you said. They later up it to 100 grand. Um, and. it started to yield some tips like.

pretty pretty much off the bat. I think. the San Jose police and Wendy's is. funneling this information to the cops. Um, as it comes in, like as good tips. come in. Um, but two very early on came. in from what the San Jose police said. There were two different people who. supposedly did not know each other who. told very similar stories about how Anna. Ayala had told them that she was. fleecing Wendy's, that all of this was. just a fraud for money to extort money. from Wendy's in a a lawsuit. So that.

that combined with all the evidence that. Wendy's had gathered that it the finger. had not come from inside their store. Um, all of Anna Ayala's background, uh, all of that put together really turned. the tide, not just on a police. investigation, but also on the media. against Anna Ayala. And she had started. this, she had created a huge media. circus around this issue. Like she went.

on Good Morning America and I could not. find it. I think Good Morning America. just took the video down. They probably. just burned it. >> because she just went on and lied, lied, lied her through her teeth about what. had happened and just pointed at Wendy's. and said like, "These guys screwed up. and this is the most disgusting thing. that could happen to somebody and I'm. torn up inside about it and they should. pay on on national news about a week.

after the incident.". >> Yeah. So, like you said, this is all. playing out pretty quickly. It's all. over the news. It's all over late night. talk show comedy. >> Mhm. >> Uh just bad joke after bad joke coming. out of Jay Leno's mouth. I won't even. repeat the one that Ed included. >> I like the Letterman one. Did you see. Letterman's? >> What was his? >> He said that she'd been spotted going. back at Wendy's and ordering chili again. because she was going back to collect. all five. [laughter]. >> See, that's good. >> Yeah. You got to give it up for. Letterman.

>> What What was Leno? Something about him. They they don't. The Chile note comes. with fingernail clippers beside the. fingernail clippers. >> And that really just encapsulate. encapsulates the difference between. those two men. >> It does. >> Although they have their joke writers, but still. >> The love of cars, I think, is also a big. differentiator. >> I don't think Letterman really cares. about cars. >> Shout out to Brian Kylie and Rob Cutner. >> Shout out to the mid90s Letterman book. of top 10 list that helped shape me as a. human being. [laughter]. Uh Brian and Rob are Conan O'Brien's uh.

monologue joke writers and have been for. many many years. >> Did I tell you Yi and I went to see. Conan O'Brien live uh with Ron Funches. and a couple of other people do some. stand oh it was so good and we actually. turned out we were st we were sitting. next to a member of the SYSK army. throughout the show. >> Oh no way. >> Yeah. He was like are you Josh and Yumi? We were like yeah it was good good guy. Good kid. Yumi was like, "I'm Yumi, but. that's not Josh, [laughter]. >> right?". >> He's like, "Well, that's weird.".

>> I'm suspicious now. >> Um, all right. Where were we? All right. It's all over the news. This is all. playing out very fast, [clears throat]. but the the drag net is sort of closing. in. >> Um, thanks to Wendy's investigations, >> thanks to the cops getting involved, and, uh, Miss Ayala is starting to feel. the heat. And like anyone who And I. think the cat's out of the bag now, right? I think it was. >> she put the finger in the chili. >> Yeah. >> Anytime someone does something like. that, it seems like two things happen.

They brag to their friends. Y. >> because they're dummies to begin with. and then that net starts to close and it. all starts to fall apart. >> Right. So her [snorts] response, this is. a pretty human response. She basically. said once the media spotlight went from. sympathetic to her to, wait a minute, who are you again and how do you explain. this thing and that thing and all this? She she was like, "Never mind.". >> Yeah, [laughter] that's basically what. she said. She said, "You know, I can't. handle this media spotlight or anything. anymore, so I'm just going to drop my.

lawsuit against Wendy's. We'll just. forget all about this.". >> Yeah. >> And Wendy's said, "No, we're not going. to just forget all about this.". >> No, of course not. >> Let's take a break, shall we? >> Yeah, >> we're going to take a break. [music]. >> [music]. >> chuck.

[music]. So, I can't surely when Anna Ayala was. like, "Okay, I'm just going to drop the. lawsuit and this will go away." There. had to only have been maybe one and a. quarter% of her brain that thought that. that was actually going to work, that it. was actually going to go away. She seems. like street wise and savvy enough to me.

that that she knew it probably wasn't. just going to go away, that that was. nothing but hope, right? I guess. >> I'm curious about that. >> Uh yeah, I don't know, man. But like the. more that they poke into her private. life, then you learn that uh she and her. husband uh James uh Placencia. >> Mhm. >> had uh there was a And this one's hard. to get information on, too. From what I. can tell is they sold a trailer,

a trailer park trailer that did not. belong to them. >> Yes. For $11,000. she did specifically. I don't know that. he was involved. He may have even owned. the trailer, but regardless, she did not own the trailer. Sold it to. a woman for $11,000. And later on, the. woman and her children were evicted um. from the trailer that they thought they. owned that they didn't own. >> Yes. They also learned that her husband, I guess, from a previous marriage owed a.

lot of money in child support. >> Mhm. And so things are starting to fall. into place to where they're like, "This. lady is always making up stories and. suing companies. She's always looking. for that get-rich angle. Her husband. owes a ton of money, >> 400k.". >> And so this is all sorting. They're. starting to uh finger her, if you will, for this crime. >> Mhm. >> It's the worst pun ever. >> We We all I thought we were going to. make it through this, but no. I've even.

been saying tipline about finger and. just ignoring it. I know you did, >> but okay. All right. It's done. It's out. there. >> So, they finally uh like you said, even. though she was like, "Oh, let's just. forget about it." They're like, "No, no, no. We can't do that." Uh, and then. there enters a lady that just kind of. and it didn't end up having the hugest. impact on the case itself, but it is. worth mentioning. This woman named Sandy. Alman. >> Uh, this is a little strange. So, this. is a woman who owned uh exotic cats.

>> Big cats, >> leopards, jaguars, tigers, I think. >> Is that how we're saying jaguars now? >> Jaguar. >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> Wow. >> That's how the Brit says it on the. commercial. >> Is it a year- end sales event up in. here? >> Yeah, the Jaguar X12. [laughter]. So, this lady owns these big cats. Um, [clears throat] this is uh not too far. from Vegas where she lives in Parump, Nevada, I guess. Or is it Cal on the. California side? Do you know? >> I think it's Nevada.

>> Okay. >> I don't know actually now that you. mentioned it. >> Uh, and she eventually, I guess, has to. get rid of these cats and calls in a. rescue group that does things like this. >> They're like, "Uh, we're a wild animal. orphanage and you're a dumb dumb who. bought all these animals you shouldn't. have had, >> so now we will deal with it." And during. this transfer of animals, she's attacked. by a spotted leopard and it bites off. her finger. >> Yes. >> And she says, she comes forward and. says, "I think that is my finger.". >> No, no. I I think actually a person who. was at the wildlife rescue at the time.

was the one who called the tip line with. that one. >> Oh, I thought cuz she wanted to take a. DNA test and everything. >> Oh, I didn't see that. Okay. All right, cool. So, she's the one who called and. said, "That's my finger." Well, she. wanted I don't know if she literally. picked up the phone and called, >> but she got involved such that she. wanted to take a DNA test to find out if. that was her finger. >> Gotcha. Okay, cool. Cool. Well, yeah, cuz she had said that the last time. she'd seen it, it was on ice in the. emergency room. So, I guess she wasn't. the sentimental type who was like, I.

want my finger back. >> Would you? >> Oh, yeah. >> Float it in some formaldahhide. >> Yumi would probably have that thing. gilded and wear it around her neck. >> Oh, >> yeah. I' I'd be like, "That's my finger. on Yubie's neck. Check it out.". [laughter] Um, but so the the whole. thing was just a red herring though, a. blind alley, right? Like it it it went. nowhere. >> No, it was not her finger. >> No. Um, there were some other tips that. came in about the finger. Um there the. Mexican authorities I guess just over.

the border got involved because it was. rumored that a an incident with a ranch. hand losing a finger in Mexico had been. the source of the finger. >> um as even as Anna Ayala who by the way. that whole tip about the trailer um sale. the trailer scam that came in from. Wendy's hotline as well. >> Oh really? >> Mhm. By this time, I believe it was day. uh 22. No, I'm sorry. It was day.

30 32. I believe about a month after the. the incident originally happened. Uh. Anna Ayala and Jamie Palencia Plazencia. um her husband were both arrested in Las. Vegas. Him for the child support. payments, failure to pay child support. Her for that trailer scam. And so while. they're on ice in Las Vegas, Wendy's is. still conducting this investigation. San. Jose are still conducting this. investigation and they've got them. They.

have them on this other stuff, but I. guess they just kind of kept them from. running and that's why they arrested him. uh knowing that they were eventually. going to build the case. I'm not sure, but that's exactly what happened because. I think about 52 days after she walked. into that Wendy's and put the finger in. the chili and took that bite, um they. they charged them for grand theft for. basically defrauding Wendy's. >> Yeah. And at this point, as far as the. police were concerned, they're like, "We. don't even need to know whose finger.

this is at this point.". >> Right. >> Like that that's really immaterial. But. Wendy's, >> they still have a public relations. crisis going on. Mhm. >> And they're like, "We really would like. to find out where this finger came. from.". >> Just so like as many facts out there as. possible will really help us restore our. good name, right? >> If we can actually pinpoint whose finger. this is and exactly how this happened. and let everybody know what what went. on. >> Yeah. So they they actually that's when. they up the the um the reward from.

50,000 to 100,000. Right. >> That's right. And that's when they hit. the jackpot, which is ironically they. got two callers on the $100,000 line. Um, >> go ahead caller. You're on the $100,000. chili finger line. >> Right. And then for the next 30 seconds. like, "Hello, am I am I on? Can you hear. me?". >> Yes, you're on. You're on. >> Are caller. Go ahead caller. >> Am I live right now? [laughter] So they. call the the two people called. One to. this day, as far as I can tell, has.

remained anonymous. The other one was a. guy named Mike Casey. And Mike Casey. owned a company called Lamb Asphalt out. of Las Vegas, Nevada. And he happened to. be the employer of Jamie Plazencia. >> That's right. >> And he said, "It's weird because you. arrested one of my employees, one of my. longtime employees, um, for the scam. And I also have another employee named. Brian Rosser who lost a finger not too. long ago. And I think they might be.

connected. I think that might be Brian. Rossi's finger. >> Yeah. >> And that's how the whole thing finally. came crashing down because they got a. hold of Brian Rossier. They got a they. gave him a DNA test. They matched it to. the DNA taken from the finger and they. said, "It's Brian Rosser's finger.". Brian Rosser worked with Jamie. Plazencia. Jaime Plazencia was married. to Anna Ayala. Anna Ayala found a finger. in her Chile. Ipso facto. Something's. rotten in Denmark and that's how it.

stands. >> Yeah. And it's even a little weirder. when you find out the details. So Brian. is at work. Someone slams the tailgate. of the truck on his hand. >> Mhm. >> Cuts an inch and a half off of his. finger. >> Can you imagine? No, dude. No. Uh cuts off his finger. And it's funny. too cuz Ed points out instead of like. driving to the hospital, >> which is what any normal person would. have done, he had owed Placencia some. money.

>> Mhm. >> Placencia and this is a man, a husband. of a woman who and it seems like they're. both always looking to scam somebody. >> They're looking for the angle. >> He sees this finger and he goes, "Hey, you owe me money." Some people say it. was 50 bucks. We don't know for sure. >> I saw [clears throat] a hundred almost. everywhere. >> Okay. So, let's say it's 100. Okay. >> He's like, "You give me that that finger. and we'll just call it square. And not. only that, my friend, but if you ever. hear about this finger in the news,

keep it quiet and I will give you a. quarter of a million dollars at some. point in the future.". >> Yep. That's what they call the carrot. and the other carrot. >> Yeah. So, he said, "Just drip some blood. on this [clears throat] roof shingle and. that will be our contract.". >> Right. [laughter]. Right. Right. It's just sign X with your. stub, your bloody stub. >> Yeah. This old used roof shingle. >> I saw actually I saw that he did go to. the hospital and came back to the work. site with his amputated finger and. that's what Jamie Plesencia was like,

"Hey, hey, >> I'm sure he did that. >> What are you going to do with that?". >> Any sense at all? >> Yeah. >> That he would just be like, "Wait a. minute.". >> So they So, so the Brian Rosser gives. him his finger and that's where the. whole thing began just a couple months. before. Right. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I think didn't didn't. Roser himself also call the tip line. >> I didn't see that anywhere. >> Okay. I heard he called the tip line. himself because he knew at this point he. was getting no money out of the scam. So. he thought, "Let me try and get this 100. grand at least, right?".

>> And Wendy's never would cop to whether. or not he got any tipline money. >> Right. And so Mike Casey, the guy who. from all all from everything that it. seems he was innocent of this, he just. happened to put two and two together. because he knew the guys. Um he said. originally, hey, you know, my asphalt. company maintains the lots of a few. Wendy's around here and they've always. been good to me, so I wanted to help. out. That was an article in May. An. article in September is Mike Casey. saying, you know, Wendy's never paid me.

that money for the hotline. So, I don't. know if he ever got it, but from what I. saw, he was going to have to split it. with the one other anonymous caller. I. don't know if that was Brian Rosser or. not. Maybe Brian Rosser was scared that. Jamie Plazencio might do something if he. found out that he had been uh he had. tipped him off or what, but there. supposedly Mike Casey and this anonymous. caller were going to um split that 100. grand. So, whether Wendy's actually pay. that money or not, uh that remains to be. seen. I I don't know. I didn't see that.

anywhere. Well, in the end, uh, Ayala. and her husband, she got sentenced to 9. years. >> He got sentenced to 12 because I think. they piled on him for the probably child. support, right? Or was it the trailer. scam? >> Yeah, he No, he got three and a third. years for the um the uh the child. support thing. Oh, >> okay. Um I don't know how long he. actually served. I think she only served. about four of that nine. >> Mhm. Um, she later revealed some more. details, including that she did cook the.

finger. >> So, uh, apparently was not a [laughter]. it wasn't a raw finger, nor though was. it cooked in 170° chili for 3 hours, right? >> But it was cooked a little bit. I think. she just literally probably put it in a. pan and was thinking like, "Oh, wait a. minute. I bet I bet they didn't think I. would think of this.". >> Right. and cooked up the finger a little bit. >> One thing that she didn't think of. though, Chuck, was um she uh didn't bite.

the finger and they found out pretty. quickly through forensic investigation. that there was no bite in the finger, >> nor did she throw up in the restaurant. uh like she said she did. Cuz there were. uh people in the restaurant that were. like, "No, I don't she didn't vomit that. I saw." And employees were like, "No, she didn't throw up that I saw." Her. father-in-law and mother-in-law both. said um that they saw her throw up, but. yeah, there was no evidence of vomit. anywhere in the bathroom or around her. table or anything. >> Yeah. And they did a pretty bad job.

>> Yeah, they did. I was going to use a a a. nasty word to characterize it, but I. just it's a family show. >> So, >> well, these are the worst kind of. people, man. These latigious like. just like work for your money, man. going around suing corporations. >> I know. So, >> so mad. >> Wendy's supposedly lost $2.5 million in. verifiable lost money. They had to cut. people's hours. This is another thing. that kind of gets left off a lot. They.

had to cut the hours of the employees um. in the Bay Area in particular because. there was such little foot traffic. coming through their stores. So when. they were convicted and sentenced, Jaime. Plazencia and Anna Ayala were um. sentenced to pay back 170,000 plus. dollars in lost wages to the Wendy's. employees. Oh, and they were also. ordered to uh pay uh 500,000 to JM. management who owned the Wendy's and.

then like another another substantial. amount to Wendy's if if they ever. profited from the crime. >> Man, bad people. She was banned from Wendy's, which I. don't know how you enforce that. >> Yeah, I was wondering that myself. actually. It seems uh like I don't know. if there's every Wendy's has a picture. of her or something like that. >> I know at sports stadiums they do that. when people are banned and that is a. little more enforceable cuz like you can. literally just have everyone be aware of. that person that's like checking tickets. and things, but.

>> you can't how can you keep someone from. coming into any Wendy's anywhere? >> I don't know. They can try at least they. can send a message by saying uh you. can't come here any longer. >> Uh Arby's two fingers 2004 2012. >> No. >> Uh Kohl's frozen custard in Wilmington, North Carolina. Finger 2005. >> Oh man. >> TGI Friday's hamburger had a finger in. 2006. >> Wow. And those were all verified and. they found, you know, like uh it was in.

the supply chain like someone lost a. finger and it got mixed in and uh it's. very just very unfortunate. I'm sure. there were quiet settlements on those. >> I'm sure too. It's bizarre. I had no. idea that that happened. I thought it. was almost always either a case of. mistaken identity or a hoax. I didn't. realize that actually really happened, you know. >> Oh yeah. Well, um that's the Wendy's chili finger. caper. If you ever wanted to know about. it, now you do. And we're glad that you. do. We're glad we were the ones that. told you. If you want to know more about.

it, go read contemporary articles at the. time. It's awesome just to see something. like that unfold. It's so cool. Uh, and. since I said that, it's time for. listener mail. And hey, shout out to Wendy's. I'm sure. I don't know if they like people still. [music] talking about this or not, but. they did not put a finger in anyone's. chili. >> Yeah, good point. >> Want to make that clear. >> Good point. Uh, all right. I'm going to call this uh. Adidas Puma. Hey guys, just finished. listening to the feud between Audi and.

Rudy Dler. Uh, wanted to say I really. enjoyed it. Uh, my dad is actually from. uh, Heritar. We were an Adidas family. through and through and my godmother, aunt, aunt Helga, worked [music] for. Adidas as an administrative assistant. for years. In addition to this, I almost. jumped out of my seat when you mentioned. the mayor [music] of Herzo. You spoke of. Dr. Garman Hawker and how he refed a. soccer match wearing one Adidas shoe and. one Puma. My uncle Hans was the mayor. right before Hawker was. >> How cool. >> Yeah, I knew you wouldn't be referring.

to him because he wouldn't have been. caught dead in even one Puma uh because. of [music] my aunt's work at the. opposing shop. Uh I didn't wear Puma. gear myself until I was grown and could. buy it myself and my entire German. family called me a trader. Uh and this. was in the early 2000s, so the tension. is still real. >> Um I'm sure it was lighthearted. At. least I hope it was. >> Okay. >> In any case, I just want to let you know. your research was spot on. Really love. hearing about something I know a little. bit about. Uh, by the way, I also use. your show in my classroom teaching 12th.

grade government in civics, and the kids. love it. >> Nice. >> So, uh, shout out to, uh, Jennifer. Wesner, uh, Gajou. at Thompson Stations, Tennessee, and. your senior government class. >> Well, thank you, Miss Gajou. And class, >> that's probably not [music] pronounced. right. Gaojo. >> I have no idea. >> Gaucho Ganv. >> Yeah, Gancho Genev. That's what it is. Uh, if you want to get in touch with us. to say hi about an old episode or for.

whatever reason, you can go on to stuff. you should know.com, check out our. social media links, and uh, you can also. send us an email to stuffodcast at. iheartradio.com. [music]. >> Stuff You Should Know is a production of. iheartradio. For more podcasts, iHeart. Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple. Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your. favorite shows.