The family of Chanel Maya Banks are desperately searching for the actress after she mysteriously vanished in Los Angeles two weeks ago – and claim her husband isn’t cooperating with police.
The Gossip Girl and Blue Bloods actress, 36, was last heard from on October 30, when she texted her cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, now working with police and leading a fundraiser for her urgent return.
The actress’ family, including her mother Judy Singh and cousin Danielle, have flown in to Southern California to help aid in the search after her husband allegedly told them ‘she does not want to be found’, and has been taking down missing posters.
Chanel had been living at an apartment in Playa Vista with her husband of one year before her family members suddenly stopped hearing from her.
Upon entering her apartment, they discovered that Banks’ belongings were still at the location, including her ’emotional support’ dog and car. However, her phone and laptop were not found.
Chanel Maya Banks, 36, has been missing for nearly two weeks – and her loved ones are desperately searching for the actress who was last heard from on October 30
Chanel Banks, 36, went missing at the end of October and has not been in touch with family
Chanel is known for her appearances in Gossip Girl (pictured), Blue Bloods and Suits
After not hearing from Chanel in days, her loved ones quickly grew worried due to the actress often being in communication.
Danielle told ABC7 News: ‘Five days without hearing from my cousin is red flags and alarm bells.
‘She doesn’t go more than 48 hours without speaking to me or her mom… That girl is more like a big sister to me.’
She said she last heard from her cousin by text on October 30, and saw her on FaceTime on October 27.
Singh has been putting up flyers in her cousin’s neighborhood but revealed that Chanel’s husband has been uncooperative with the family and police.
‘Her husband is extremely suspicious,’ she told ABC7. ‘He is not willing to help LAPD. He’s not willing to help me or her mom. ‘He is removing flyers off of posts and cars.’
Police told KTLA 5 they are helping with the case and have carried out four welfare checks this month alone. Banks was not home on any of the occasions, they said.
When the family entered the home, they found her dog. Danielle said it was unusual, as her cousin ‘does not go anywhere without her dog’.
‘That dog is by her side for emotional support.’
Banks married her husband last year in November and uploaded a video of the day on her main TikTok account at the time. She was last active on the social media app in September.
Danielle told ABC7 News that Chanel has recently been stepping away from her acting career to instead focus on writing.
‘I can tell you in my soul, in my gut, something is not right…We’re crossing two weeks now without a word, without a sound. Nothing.’
‘We asked him where is Chanel, and all he continues to say is “she does not want to be found, she will reach out when she’s ready.”‘ Danielle said. Police do not expect foul play
A GoFundMe page has been launched in order to help the family pay expenses for a private investigator and to help with their stay in Los Angeles
Banks married her husband last year in November and uploaded a video of the day on her main TikTok account at the time. She was last active on the social media app in September
The Blue Bloods actor (pictured left) had reportedly stepped away from acting in recent years
According to her family members, per KTLA 5, Banks moved to Los Angeles 10 years earlier to pursue an acting career.
Along with Gossip Girl, Chanel – who also goes by the name of Chanel Farrell – is known for appearing in the series Blue Bloods, Suits, and the movie, Twelve.
Danielle told KTLA 5: ‘The last text we got from her before her phone went off the grid was Oct. 30. I’m not going to leave California until I find my cousin.’
She flew from Toronto to help search for Chanel, with the actress’ mother arriving from New York.
Upon discovering that Banks’ phone appeared to be dead, and her dog and car were still at her apartment, Danielle immediately reached out to the police.
Los Angeles Police Department investigators confirmed to the outlet that they are working on the case, and have completed a welfare checks this month.
In an emotional message, Danielle said to Chanel, ‘We love you so much. We just want to know you’re okay and that you’re safe and that nobody did anything to you.’
Banks’ mother, Judy, asked for prayers and told KTLA, ‘Pray for my daughter because at this point, we don’t know exactly [what happened].’
‘She would never go anywhere without telling her mom or myself. We noticed on November 10 that her husband has a busted lip and marks and scratches on his neck and arms,’ Danielle said
Banks, 36, is known for starring in episodes of the third season of Gossip Girl (2009) as Sawyer Bennett – one of Jenny Humphrey’s friends; Taylor Momsen (Jenny) seen above in NYC in 2009
Los Angeles Police Department investigators confirmed to the outlet that they are working on the case to help find the missing actress (pictured centre)
‘We are hearing stuff here and there, people saying this and that, but I know that’s not my daughter.’
A GoFundMe page has been launched in order to help the family pay expenses for a private investigator and to help with their stay in Los Angeles.
Danielle penned a description which read that Chanel, ‘has been married for just over a year, and her husband is being uncooperative with police.’
She revealed that both she and Judy were able to gain access to the apartment on Sunday, November 10 and said, ‘all of her belongings are still there’ aside from her laptop and phone.
‘She would NEVER go anywhere without telling her mom or myself. We noticed on November 10 that her husband has a busted lip and marks and scratches on his neck and arms.’
Danielle added, ‘Police were called on November 10 and they took pictures of his injuries, which he did not have two days ago when police did the last welfare check.’
‘We asked him where is Chanel, and all he continues to say is “she does not want to be found, she will reach out when she’s ready.”‘
‘He claims he does not know where she is, he says he hasn’t seen or heard from her since November 7, but never called police to say she’s gone.’
Family claim her husband is not cooperating with police
However, Danielle wrote that the police do not suspect her husband of ‘foul play’ and told the family that he ‘has not committed any crime by with-holding information.’
‘There’s nothing they can do until they have evidence or probable cause to arrest him.’
In conclusion, she wrote, ‘Chanel has no family or friends here and would NEVER go somewhere without telling her mom. Please help us find my cousin.’
As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe page has raised around $3,000 with the goal of $20,000.
