residents and the media to stop spreading "cruel'' rumours about what happened to her.

And in an effort to "put the rumours to rest'' the family will be holding a press conference on June 16, Chaona's father Mr. John Woolridge disclosed last night.

The most widespread rumour is that she was dragged off by members of a Satanic cult and killed during one of their rituals.

Police are still "constantly'' getting enquiries about Satanic cults and tips that the young girl, who has Down's Syndrome, may have been kidnapped by members of such cults, spokesman Sgt. John Dale said yesterday.

When even more shocking stories surfaced recently, that Chaona's bones were found in a cave and that she had been dismembered, her family was compelled to respond, said Ms April-Jean Smith, the sister of Chaona's mother Mrs. Donna Woolridge.

Ms Smith, who wrote a letter this week to The Royal Gazette on behalf of the family, said they were especially upset by an article in the Bermuda Times two weeks ago.

The article, headlined "Cults: A Threat To Social Fabric'', said that according to "informed sources'', Police had found Chaona's "bloodied clothing in a cave in St. David's'', and "the sacrifice of virgin blood by Satanists has been linked to full moons which in this case occurred on Good Friday, following the girl's disappearance.'' Ms Smith said rumours were not just rampant in St. David's, but Island-wide.

"Everyone is talking'', she said. "When we hear them (the rumours), it really hurts.'' Ms Smith wrote in her letter to The Gazette : "This is a plea to everyone who is guilty, to resist and refrain from such hurtful slander. Each new rumour that is spread sends more unnecessary speculation.

"We are positive that you (the public) are unaware of the pain we are enduring in not knowing what has happened to this precious child. If you have any compassion at all, you would not be so cruel in repeating things you know absolutely nothing about.'' Ms Smith said the family still believes Chaona may be alive. Until a body is found the family will "always have hope'', she said. "It's the not knowing what happened to her and hearing the rumours that really hurts,'' she said.

Sgt. Dale stressed: "We have not found a body. If we had found her body we would have made the public aware.'' He said the investigation was still open but Satanism was not a focus, although it had been in the past.

Following speculation last month and in April that Chaona was kidnapped by members of a Satanic cult, Sgt. Dale said Police received a number of calls from parents concerned about the safety of their children.

He said Police had no evidence that Satanic cults continued to thrive on the Island.

"Parents were advised to take the same safety precautions they would normally take with their children,'' Sgt. Dale said.

If Chaona or her body are not found, Police have the option of making a special request to the Governor for an inquest to be held. Inquests are not normally held if there is no body, Sgt. Dale explained.

Prosecutions officer Sgt. Rex Osborne said a decision whether to request an inquest to be held had not yet been made.

Chaona disappeared from her home in Cove Valley, St. David's on the morning of April 5 while her parents were getting ready for church.