Family desperate to find 'Gossip Girl' actress who vanished
Nov 13, 2024
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) - Family members of a 36-year-old California woman who has not been seen or heard from in nearly two weeks have come from all over the country to try and find her.
Chanel Banks, according to family members, moved to Los Angeles more than a decade ago to pursue a career in acting.
Concern raises for former Duke basketball star Kyle Singler after cryptic videos
According to her IMDB page, the 36-year-old is best known for roles on "Gossip Girl," "Blue Bloods" and "Twelve."
Chanel Banks and her husband seen in this undated photo. (Danielle-Tori Singh)Chanel Banks, seen in this undated photo. (Danielle-Tori Singh)Family members seen passing out flyers of Chanel Banks, missing since at least Oct. 30, 2024. (KTLA)Chanel Banks, seen in this undated photo. (Danielle-Tori Singh)Chanel Banks' vehicle seen at her apartment in Playa Vista on Nov. 12, 2024. (KTLA)Chanel Banks, seen in this undated photo. (Danielle-Tori Singh)
Her cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, told Nexstar's KTLA that she never thought her first trip to California would be to look for Banks, who hasn’t been heard from since late October.
“The last text we got from her before her phone went off the grid was Oct. 30,” Singh explained. “I’m not going to leave California until I find my cousin.”
Once she learned that Banks’ phone was dead, and her car and dog were still at her Playa Vista apartment along Jefferson Boulevard, she notified the police.
Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KTLA that they are looking into the disappearance of the aspiring actress, and have conducted four separate welfare checks, sparking fear in loved ones that something horrible might’ve happened.
“We love you so much,” Singh said, trying to hold back tears. “We just want to know you’re okay and that you’re safe and that nobody did anything to you.”
As for Banks’ husband, right now, he does not appear to be canvassing with his wife’s family and, so far, according to Banks' family members, has not been cooperating.
Until the authorities and family members learn more details about what may have happened, Banks’ mother Judy Singh, who flew to L.A. from New York to help with the search, asks people to pray.
“Pray for my daughter because at this point, we don’t know exactly [what happened],” the worried mother said. “We are hearing stuff here and there, people saying this and that, but I know that’s not my daughter.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized to help the family hire a private investigator and cover expenses in L.A. while they continue the desperate search for their loved one.