There is plenty of mystery surrounding the disappearance of Gossip Girl actress Chanel Maya Banks, 36.
The police claimed early on Wednesday morning that she was found in Texas, according TMZ.
It was added that the TV star was ‘safe and sound’ with no injuries after she was not heard from for two weeks. Law enforcement told the site that they did ‘not suspect foul play.’
But her family has insisted that Banks has not been found and that the woman in Texas who claims to be Chanel is indeed not Chanel, but rather using the actress’ expired New York ID card, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The family even said the TMZ story was ‘fake news.’
‘I have positively identified that that is not her,’ Chanel’s cousin Danielle Tori-Singh said on Facebook. ‘I’ve known her for 31 years. I know what she looks like.’
Chanel Maya Banks has been found, it was claimed early on Wednesday morning. TMZ has reported that the Gossip Girl star is ‘safe and sound’, but her family has said that is not true. Seen in 2012
Chanel is known for her appearances in Gossip Girl (pictured), Blue Bloods and Suits
On November 8 Chanel’s family revealed they were desperately searching for her after she mysteriously vanished in Los Angeles.
They had also claimed that her husband was not cooperating with police as they started a GoFundMe page that raised over $3,000 to help find her.
The Blue Bloods actress was last heard from on October 30, when she texted her cousin, Tori-Singh, who worked with police and led a fundraiser for her urgent return.
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Gossip Girl actress Chanel Maya Banks vanishes in LA and family accuse husband of refusing to help search
The actress’ family, including her mother Judy Singh and cousin Danielle, flew in to Southern California to help aid in the search after her husband allegedly told them ‘she does not want to be found’, and had 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.
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.’
Her loved ones looked for the actress who was last heard from on October 30
Chanel Banks, 36, went missing at the end of October, it was claimed
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
Police told KTLA 5 at the time that they were helping with the case and carried out four welfare checks. 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’.
It was added: ‘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
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
The Blue Bloods actor (pictured left) had reportedly stepped away from acting in recent years
Chanel attends the Cinema Society film screening of Twelce, in New York, July 2010
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 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
‘We are hearing stuff here and there, people saying this and that, but I know that’s not my daughter.’
A GoFundMe page was 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.’
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 raised around $3,000 with the goal of $20,000.