Kaylah Walton
Chanel Maya Banks, known for her role in Gossip Girl, has been located safe and without injuries after being reported missing in Los Angeles, despite her husband allegedly not cooperating in the search.
The 36-year-old resides in Playa Vista, Los Angeles, and had gone quiet since October 30.
Authorities conducted wellness checks on November 7 and 8, but were unable to find her. Banks, who portrayed Sawyer Bennett in a few episodes of Gossip Girl, was later categorized as a missing person. Her cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, even set up a GoFundMe to assist in the search efforts.
Singh traveled from Toronto, while her mother came from New York as part of the search. According to law enforcement, Banks has been found safe, and there are no suspicions of foul play in her disappearance.
Singh expressed concerns to ABC7 Eyewitness News, stating, “Five days without communication raised major concerns for me.”
“She rarely goes more than 48 hours without contacting me or her mom. … To me, she is like a big sister.”
Concerns Over Husband’s Involvement
The situation gained attention as Banks’ husband, married to her for over a year, reportedly showed reluctance to assist in the search. Singh stated, “He’s unwilling to cooperate with LAPD or help me and her mom find her, even removing flyers from public areas.”
On the GoFundMe page, she mentioned, “When we asked him where Chanel is, he insists, ‘She does not want to be found, she’ll reach out when she’s ready.’ He claims ignorance about her whereabouts and hasn’t seen her since November 7.”
Danielle-Tori also alleged that Banks’ husband had visible injuries, including a “busted lip and scratches on his neck and arms” on November 10, contrasting with his appearance during the previous police welfare check just two days prior.
