The family of actress Chanel Maya Banks, known for her roles in “Blue Bloods” and “Gossip Girl,” is growing increasingly desperate as the 36-year-old has been missing from her Los Angeles apartment for over two weeks. Family members say they last heard from her on October 30, when Banks sent a text to her cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh. Since then, there has been no trace of her whereabouts.
In an emotional statement, Singh shared her distress: “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.” Now, as the days turn into weeks, Singh says her gut feeling tells her something is seriously wrong. “In my soul and in my gut, something is not right. Something is up. We’re now crossing more than two weeks with not a word, not a sound, nothing.”
Authorities have conducted welfare checks at the Playa Vista apartment Banks shared with her husband of just over a year. Inside, officers found her belongings and her dog—but no indication of where she might have gone or what may have happened. Her cousin, who traveled all the way from Toronto, has taken matters into her own hands by plastering “Missing Person” posters around Banks’ neighborhood, hoping that someone has seen or heard something that could lead them to her.
But there’s another element to this troubling story: Banks’ husband, whose behavior has raised suspicions within the family. According to Singh, he has been disturbingly unhelpful in the search for his wife. “He’s not willing to help LAPD. He’s not willing to help me or her mom find her. He is removing flyers off of posts and cars,” Singh alleged. While Banks’ family is devoting every effort to find her, her husband’s apparent disinterest—and even resistance—is deeply unsettling to those who loved her most.
To make matters worse, the family says they’ve been told by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) that, despite his unusual behavior, there is no indication of foul play, and the husband has not broken any laws by withholding information. But the family isn’t satisfied with that answer. They’re now rallying funds through a fundraiser, hoping to hire a private investigator to dig deeper and uncover the truth that might bring Banks back safely.
While Banks’ husband has yet to respond to Singh’s allegations, his silence only adds to the list of questions surrounding her disappearance. Her family’s goal now is to raise enough funds to hire someone who will tirelessly pursue answers—answers that don’t seem to be coming from local authorities.
Banks, who also went by the name Chanel Farrell in some of her acting credits, has appeared in shows like *Twelve* and *Blue Bloods*, as well as *Gossip Girl*, and she seemed to have a promising career ahead of her. Now, her family can only wait, hope, and push for more resources to aid in their search.
As the LAPD continues its investigation, her family remains undeterred in their quest to bring Chanel home. This unsettling case reminds us that, even when the facts don’t add up, those who care won’t rest until they find answers. For Banks’ family, the journey to the truth has only just begun.
