Gossip Girl star Chanel Maya Banks goes missing as desperate search launched and husband under fire

The family of a Gossip Girl actress are searching for her after the star went missing in Los Angeles two weeks ago

The family of actress Chanel Maya Banks are frantically trying to locate the star who hasn't been seen in two weeks.

The Gossip Girl star mysteriously vanished in Los Angeles, and her family are claiming her husband won't cooperate with police. Banks, 36, appeared on the third series of the hit TV show as Sawyer Bennett. Her character played a pal of Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen).

Members of Banks' family, including her mum, Judy Singh, and cousin Danielle-Tori Singh have flown in to help with the search. It's believed her love ones grew worried for her well-being when she stopped contacting them for a number of days.

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."

Banks had been living with her husband of one year before family said they suddenly stopped hearing from her. It's said they discovered her belongings, including her car and dog, were still at the property. However, they had been unable to locate her laptop and phone.

Her cousin revealed she has been putting flyers up in the actress' neighbourhood to plead for help. However, she claimed the star's husband wasn't showing a willingness to help. She accused: "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."

Banks, who married her husband last year in November, is said to have stepped away from her acting career recently to focus on her writing, according to her cousin. Singh added that she believes in her gut that "something is not right".

"We're crossing two weeks now without a word, without a sound. Nothing," she continued to tell ABC7 News. There has also been a GoFundMe page set up to help with the search.

Speaking to other publications, Singh also told KTLA 5 how she last received a text from her cousin on October 30. She promised: "I'm not going to leave California until I find my 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."

Banks' mother also asked followers to pray for her daughter, saying the family don't know what is going on at present.

Police confirmed to the publication that they are assisting with the case. They said a number of welfare checks had been carried out this month at her property, but Banks wasn't home on any of the four occasions.

It's claimed Banks left for Los Angeles 10 years ago in her bid to become an actress. As well as appearing on Gossip Girl, she has starred on hit crime series Blue Bloods and in the movie, Twelve.

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."

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