Gossip Girl star goes missing as desperate search launched
Gossip Girl actress Chanel Maya Banks has been missing for two weeks, with her family desperately trying to locate her. She is famed for starring in the third series of the hit TV series as Sawyer Bennett. Her character played a pal of Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen).
Chanel, 36, mysteriously vanished in Los Angeles two weeks ago and her family are claiming her husband won't cooperate with police. Members of the actress' family, including her mum Judy Singh and cousin Danielle-Tori Singh, have flown to LA to help with the search. It's believed her family grew concerned after she stopped contacting them for several days.
Chanel's cousin 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."
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The actress had been living her husband of one year before her loved ones suddenly stopped hearing from her. They discovered her belongings, including her dog and car, still at the property, but her laptop and phone were unable to be located.
Flyers have been placed in Chanel's neighbourhood by her cousin Danielle as they desperately search for her. However, Danielle claimed Chanel's husband wasn't showing a willingness to help with the search. She claimed: "He's not willing to help LAPD. He's not wiling to help me or her mom find her. He is removing flyers off of posts and cars."
Danielle told KTLA 5 that she last received a text from Chanel on 30 October. She vowed not to leave California until she finds her cousin. She added an emotional message to Banks in case she was listening, telling the outlet: "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."
There has also been a GoFundMe page set up to help with the search. On the GoFundMe page, which has so far raised $3,000 of its $20,000 target, Singh wrote: "She [Banks] 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. 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."
She went on to explain the reason behind the GoFundMe page: "I’m creating this go fund me because we need to hire a private investigator. LAPD have told us because there’s no signs of foul play, and her husband 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.
"We also need money for hotels, food, rental car and gas. We are not from Los Angeles. I flew in from Toronto, Canada and her mom flew here from New York. Chanel has no family or friends here and would NEVER go somewhere without telling her mom. Please help us find my cousin."
