Chanel Maya Banks, known for her role in Gossip Girl, made headlines last week after her family reported her missing on October 30. After a tense two-week search, she was reportedly found safe in Texas on November 11.
“She is fine,” Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson, Charles Miller, said to PEOPLE. “No danger. She is OK. She has been taken out of the missing person system for us and we have closed our investigation.”
According to the police, a delay in coordinating with various law enforcement agencies caused the announcement of her location to be postponed until Wednesday, Nov. 13, when LAPD’s media relations received the information.
According to a GoFundMe made by her cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, who flew into Los Angeles from Toronto to help search for Banks, their last contact with her was October 30, 2024.
“Five days without hearing from my cousin is red flags and alarm bells,” Singh told Los Angeles ABC station KABC. “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.”
There were 2 welfare checks performed on November 7, and another 2 welfare checks on November 8 where it was confirmed she was not in her apartment the GoFundMe page continued.
On November 10, their aunt and Singh were able to get into the apartment and all of the actress’ belongings were still there and the only items that were not located were her phone and laptop. They noted that she left behind her dog whom she doesn’t go anywhere without, as well as her vehicles that were parked in her garage.
Messages were also posted to a social media account on Wednesday under Banks’ name, featuring the headline “I am not missing.” The posts alleged abuse by her family and suggested that she had left voluntarily “to escape my cage.”
It was also mentioned how they noticed that Chanel’s husband had a busted lip and marks and scratches on his neck and arms. They notified the police and they took pictures of his injuries, which they claim that he did not have two days before when police did the last welfare check.
The family objected to the LAPD’s claims, telling reporters they do not believe Banks has in fact been found.
Singh expressed doubt the woman the police said they had found was Banks, and said the family still has not been able to reach her. The family viewed the body camera footage, and said that the woman the Texas police spoke to looked and sounded different than Banks.
Singh criticized the Texas police officers’ investigation as “lousy.”
Police maintain the case is considered closed, and have not commented on the family’s claims.
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