Family and friends of the missing Cooper twins have launched another impassioned plea to end rumour-mongering over the whereabouts of the 20-year-olds and the possible reasons for their violent abduction.

In an advert published in today?s , a statement issued on behalf of the family implores the community to ?judge matters based on the facts and not assumptions? while attempting to highlight the potential damage reports in the media have inflicted on any potential criminal trials proceeding without any undue prejudice after weeks of speculation.

?The media, in the last week, have (sic) been inundated with stories,? the statement says. ?Many speculations and allegations have been made concerning the twins, i.e they beat an old man, or they have stolen money and drugs, which come down to pure rumours and accusations.

?Statements have even been made that Bermuda is better off without them. What foolishness is this in the mind-set of Bermudians? Where has the ingredient of moral consciousness gone??

?As residents of Bermuda, this should alarm us as it reflects the moral fibre of our community eroding away. With a pending trial, our greatest fear should be about the negative publicity and the influence it can have on any jury to render a fair decision ? this case is not based on us judging the victims (the twins) but rather what has been done to them.

Despite these protestations, has been told by a Police source closely involved in the 16-day old investigation that the kidnappings were in connection with the theft of a large amount of money from an underground gambling den.

A phone call to that source yesterday afternoon again confirmed that this information, first published on Monday March 21, is a line of enquiry which is being very actively pursued.

?There have been plenty of ridiculous rumours flying around,? the source said. ?But what was published in the print media regarding the theft of money is well-known among the investigative team.?

Meanwhile, yet another day of scant progress in the investigation was reported by Police yesterday.

Two men have been charged with assaulting the twins while two others arrested in connection with the firebomb attack on the crime scene in Devonshire were released on Police bail last week.