Mother: Wendy's finger used to settle debt

Associated Press ^ | May. 18, 2005 | Associated Press

[Dubya]

SAN JOSE, Calif. - A man who lost part of his finger in a workplace accident was the source of the fingertip used in an alleged scam against Wendy's restaurants, and gave it away to settle a debt, his mother said.

"My son is the victim in this," Brenda Shouey said in an interview published in Wednesday's San Francisco Chronicle. "I believe he got caught in something, and he didn't understand what was going on."

Anna Ayala, 39, was arrested April 21 at her Las Vegas home on suspicion of attempted grand theft for allegedly costing Wendy's millions of dollars in a plot to shake down the company by claiming she found the finger in a bowl of chili in a restaurant in San Jose.

Ayala was to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon.

Shouey, of Worthington, Pa., said her son, Brian Paul Rossiter, 36, of Las Vegas, lost part of his finger in December in an accident at a paving company where he worked with James Plascencia, Ayala's husband. His hand got caught in a mechanical truck lift, she said.

She said he gave it to Plascencia to settle a $50 debt.

San Jose police announced last week the finger was obtained from an associate of Plascencia, but they have refused to identify him because he is cooperating in the investigation. They did not immediately return a message Wednesday seeking comment on the newspaper's account.

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."

Shouey declined to give details of how the finger was preserved or whether Rossiter knew why Plascencia allegedly wanted the finger. She said her son told her of his role only this week and is keeping a low profile after undergoing intense police questioning.

Plascencia was arrested earlier this month on unrelated charges of failing to pay child support in a previous relationship.

[HEY4QDEMS]

He thought it was cute to show" the severed finger, Shouey said. "It's like a man thing."

I keep mine in my trophy case.

[HEY4QDEMS]

I once had chicken fingers in with my Chinese food.

[Calpernia]

Oh you are right! Thank you!

[Calpernia]

And that was another Stephen King. Forgot the name of the short story.

A guy was stranded on an island, broke his ankle trying to catch a sea gull for food, pretty much went insane and was eating his 'chicken fingers' in the end.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Actually, that was a short story by Stephen King called Quitters, Inc. It was included in a 1985 movie anthology called Cat's Eye.

I remember that. The finger removal was for excessive weight gain after quitting.

The best part was that the subject's spouse is the one who endures the torture when the subject fails.

[ishabibble]

I believe that you are thinking of a Stephen King movie, starring James Woods and Drew Barrymore.

Sorry, but I don't remember the title.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1405724/posts?page=19#19


Thanks!

[newfrpr04]

"if the insurance companies find out that a finger is only worth $50" Wonder if the workers comp carrier will look into the claim... maybe his accident was planned? figuring he could get a part of the Wendy's settlement. "A man kind of thing???? Who goes around settling debts with body parts?

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

"Who goes around settling debts with body parts?"

Prostitutes?

[jiggyboy]

There was an Alfred Hitchcock episode along those lines -- if you can light your lighter ten times in a row I'll give you my sports car, otherwise I'll cut off one of your fingers.