Gossip Girl actress Chanel Maya Banks disappears in LA and family accuses husband of refusing to help search
Chanel Maya Banks’ family are desperate to find the actress after she mysteriously disappeared in Los Angeles two weeks ago – and claim her husband is not cooperating with police.
The 36-year-old Gossip Girl and Blue Bloods actress was last heard from on October 30, when she texted her cousin Danielle-Tori Singh, who now works in law enforcement and is leading a fundraising campaign for her urgent return.
The actress’ family, including her mother Judy Singh and cousin Danielle, have flown to Southern California to assist in the search after her husband reportedly told them “she doesn’t want to be found,” and removed missing posters.
Chanel had been living with her husband in an apartment in Playa Vista for a year before her relatives suddenly stopped hearing from her.
When they entered 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 desperate to find the actress who was last heard from on October 30
Chanel Banks, 36, went missing in late October and has had no contact with family
Chanel is known for her appearances in Gossip Girl (pictured), Blue Bloods and Suits
After not hearing from Chanel for days, her loved ones quickly became concerned as the actress was often in communication.
Danielle told me ABC7 News: “Five days without hearing from my cousin are red flags and alarm bells.
“She doesn’t go more than 48 hours without talking 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 put up flyers near her cousin, but revealed that Chanel’s husband is not cooperating with the family and police.
“Her husband is extremely suspicious,” she told ABC7. “He’s not willing to help the LAPD. He doesn’t want to help me or her mother. “He removes flyers from poles and cars.”
Police told KTLA 5 they are helping with the case and have conducted four welfare checks this month alone. Banks was not home on any of the occasions, they said.
The police found the dog. Danielle said it was unusual that her cousin “doesn’t go anywhere without her dog.”
“That dog is by her side for emotional support.”
Banks married her husband in November last year and uploaded a video of the day to her main TikTok account at the time. She was last active on the social media app in September.
Danielle told ABC7 News that Chanel recently left her acting career to focus on writing instead.
‘I can tell you in my soul, in my gut, that something is not right… We have now gone two weeks without a word, without a sound. Nothing.’
A GoFundMe page has been launched to help the family pay for a private investigator and to assist with their stay in Los Angeles
Banks married her husband in November last year and uploaded a video of the day to 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 retired from acting in recent years
According to her relatives, per KTL 5Banks moved to Los Angeles ten years earlier to pursue an acting career.
Along with Gossip Girl, Chanel – who also goes by the name Chanel Farrell – is known for her appearances in the series Blue Bloods, Suits and the film Twelve.
Danielle told KTLA 5, “The last text we got from her before her phone went offline was October 30th. I’m not leaving California until I find my cousin.”
She flew from Toronto to help search for Chanel, while the actress’ mother arrived from New York.
When Danielle discovered that Banks’ phone appeared to be dead and that her dog and car were still at her apartment, Danielle immediately contacted the police.
Los Angeles Police Department investigators confirmed to the newspaper that they are working on the case and have completed a total of four welfare checks this month, but each time Chanel was never in the apartment.
In an emotional message, Danielle told Chanel: ‘We love you so much. We just want to know that you are okay, that you are safe and that no one did anything to you.”
Banks’ mother, Judy, asked for prayers, telling KTLA, “Pray for my daughter because right now we don’t know exactly. [what happened].’
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 New York in 2009
“We hear things here and there, people say this and that, but I know it’s not my daughter.”
A GoFundMe page was launched to help the family pay for a private investigator and assist with their stay in Los Angeles.
Danielle wrote a description that said Chanel “has been married for just over a year and her husband is not cooperating with law enforcement.”
She revealed that both she and Judy had gained access to the apartment on Sunday, November 10, saying ‘all her belongings are still there’ apart from her laptop and phone.
“She would NEVER go anywhere without telling her mother or myself. On November 10, we noticed her husband had a busted lip and marks and scratches on his neck and arms.”
Danielle added: “The police were called on November 10th and they took pictures of his injuries, which he didn’t have two days ago when the police did the last welfare check.”
“We asked him where Chanel is, and all he keeps saying is, ‘She doesn’t want to be found, she’ll get in touch when she’s ready.’
‘He claims he doesn’t know where she is. He says he hasn’t seen or heard from her since November 7, but never called the police to say she’s gone.”
Family claims her husband is not cooperating with police
However, Danielle wrote that police do not suspect her husband of “foul play” and told the family that he “has not committed any crime by withholding information.”
“They can’t do anything until they have evidence or probable cause to arrest him.”
Finally, she wrote, “Chanel has no family or friends here and would NEVER go anywhere without telling her mother. Please help us find my cousin.”
As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe page has raised about $3,000 with a goal of $20,000.