Charge added in Wendy's case

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A woman accused of lying about finding a human finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili was charged Wednesday 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 $50 debt.

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

Anna Ayala, 39, who already faces attempted grand larceny and grand larceny charges, told police she discovered the fingertip March 22 while dining with family at a Wendy's in San Jose. Police arrested her and accused her of making up the story to extort money from the fast-food chain.

Prosecutor David Boyd added the conspiracy charge during a hearing Wednesday.