LV, Pahrump women not linked in finger case

Christina Littlefield and Jen Lawson

Thursday, April 14, 2005 | 10:57 a.m.

San Jose Police said Wednesday that the Las Vegas woman who found a portion of a finger in her chili at a Wendy's in San Jose is not the main focus of their investigation into how the digit ended up in the food.

Officer Regina Tepoortin, spokeswoman for San Jose Police, said investigators have been unable to uncover any link between Anna Ayala, the finger-discovering chili eater from Las Vegas, and a Pahrump woman whose finger was bitten off in late February by a leopard.

"We don't believe they have any type of connection," Tepoortin said. "We are continuing our investigation."

However, the San Antonio animal sanctuary director who witnessed the Pahrump leopard attack and who reported the possible connection Tuesday to a Wendy's hotline said she thought there was just too much of a coincidence, especially after she compared photos of the two fingers side by side and learned that the women both live in Southern Nevada.

"The finger (Pahrump resident Sandra Allman lost) itself uncannily resembles the picture that was in the paper," Carol Asvestas, director of the Wild Animal Orphanage in San Antonio, Texas, said.

"It just send all kinds of red flags up," Asvestas said, adding that her staff had discussed the irony of two people losing their fingers within a month's time when the incident first hit the news.

Further, Allman herself said Wednesday through her attorney that she believes it was her finger that turned up in the chili and that she wants to participate in the DNA testing being sought by San Jose authorities.

Asvestas said she was there when Allman's pet leopard bit off Allman's finger Feb. 23. Asvestas and her crew were there to rescue six tigers and three leopards Allman could no longer take care of.

Neighbors previously told the Sun that Allman had inherited the animals from her boyfriend, former Nye County animal control contractor Karl Mitchell. Mitchell was arrested in May on bail violations stemming from a theft charge.

Asvestas said her crew retrieved Allman's finger and documented the incident with photographs. They also took Allman to the hospital.

Doctors at University Medical Center and Sunrise Hospital were unable to reattach the finger, Asvestas said.

Sheldon, Allman's attorney, said the last time she saw the finger was at Sunrise Hospital. A hospital spokeswoman said there was no record of the body part at the pathology department, where it normally would have been taken.

Glenda McCartney, Sunrise Hospital spokeswoman, said there was no record of Ayala being a recent patient or employee. If the finger is Allman's, it's unclear how she would have had access to it.

Ayala reported finding a portion of an index finger, with what appears to be a woman's long fingernail attached, in her chili March 22 in San Jose. She filed a lawsuit against the fast-food chain.

Ayala has a history of legal claims against corporations, including General Motors, her former employer, court records show. About a year ago she received a settlement for medical expenses after claiming that her daughter became ill from eating at a local El Pollo Loco fast-food restaurant.

San Jose Police, assisted by Metro Police, raided Ayala's home near Serene Avenue and Maryland Parkway on April 7. But Tepoortin said the documents listing what evidence was being sought and what evidence, if any, was found have been sealed and could not be made public.

Ayala lawyer announced Wednesday that Ayala was dropping her lawsuit against Wendy's because of the emotional distress that the incident has caused her.

Tepoortin said Wednesday that a warrant had not been issued for Ayala's arrest and investigators didn't expect one to be issued anytime soon.

The Sun was unable to reach Ayala and Allman for comment Wednesday.

Asvestas said she didn't know about Wendy's offer of a $50,000 reward when she made the phone call to the company Tuesday, but she said that it would be a helpful donation for her nonprofit sanctuary.

She said she was just hoping that the tip "will solve the mystery" of where the Wendy's finger came from.