Gossip Girl star Chanel Maya Banks' disappearance - everything known so far as family beg for help

Chanel Maya Banks, also known by the name Chanel Farrell, starred in the hit teen drama Gossip Girl, and also played roles in US series Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck

Gossip Girl actress Chanel Maya Banks is at the heart of a frantic search party, after mysteriously disappearing from her Los Angeles home without a trace.

The 36-year-old appeared on the third series of the TV show, playing Sawyer Bennett, a friend of Jenny Humphrey, who was played by Taylor Momsen. But after not hearing from Chanel for five days, her family grew concerned, with them claiming it's highly out of character for the actress.

The family are also concerned with the actions of her husband, who Chanel married in November last year. According to reports, he is not co-operating with their pleas to help find her and insists she 'doesn't want to be found'.

Here's everything we know so far about the disappearance of Chanel Maya Banks...

Apartment mystery

The family of the actress, also known as Chanel Farrell, are desperately searching for her after finding her apartment was left in bizarre circumstances. When her mum Judy Singh, and cousin Danielle-Tori Singh flew in from Toronto to help, the first thing they did was head to her apartment to look for clues as to where they could locate her.

Worryingly, they discovered that most of her belongings remained at the property, including her dog and car. But they couldn't find her laptop or her phone. She was last seen on October 30.

Husband under fire

Chanel Maya Banks is said to have married her husband in November 2023, posting a TikTok video to celebrate the occasion. But her family have accused him of being 'unwilling' to help LAPD, adding he has been "removing flyers off of posts and cars".

Chanel's cousin Danielle told ABC7 News : "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." Although the family allege he is being unhelpful, they have ascertained that he "has not committed any crime".

'Red flags and alarm bells'

The whole family are now worried "something is not right", with the disappearance being so out of character for Chanel, who Danielle describes as "like a big sister".

Danielle told ABC 7's Eyewitness News: "Five days without hearing from my cousin is red flags and alarm bells," Singh told Eyewitness News. "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 added: "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."

TikTok claim: 'I finally found my people'

Chanel's recent TikTok posts have only added to the mystery surrounding her disappearance. In a video showing her smiling at the camera, submerged in water in the dark, she can be seen posing with her husband. The cryptic caption reads: "Recently, I’ve really come to value community on a whole new level. I wouldn’t consider myself a misanthrope - but if the past was any indication, I didn’t exactly thrive in a hive. It was initially with great effort that I’d found myself here in the first place years ago, voluntarily gathered amongst 30 or so others in the beautiful living-room of our much beloved friends for Bible study.

"As we happily expounded on the unending reaches of G-d’s grace, our faces were awash in smiles sheepish from the unrelenting heat. Though tonight was different. We headed outside for the pool: a floating jewel ensconced with twinkle lights luminescent against the blackness of the night. As I slid into the water I felt such peace wash over me like I was bathing in the afterglow of prayers faithfully dispatched."

She adds: "I finally feel like I found my place and my people."

GoFundMe page

In their attempt to find the missing star, Chanel's family have set up a crowdfunder to help with their costs while they search. She wrote in the description on the 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."

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