Actress Chanel Banks missing; family accuses husband

Chanel Maya Banks, who played Sawyer Bennett in the third series of "Gossip Girl," disappeared a fortnight ago. Her mother, Judy Singh, and cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, have flown to California to assist in the search.

The family has lost contact with her. The actress lived with her husband in Playa Vista for a year. Upon entering her flat, her mother and cousin discovered that Chanel's personal belongings were still there, but her phone and laptop were missing. Danielle said in an interview with ABC7 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."

The cousin claims that Chanel's husband is not cooperating with the family or the police. "He is removing flyers off of posts and cars," Danielle stated.

The Los Angeles police have confirmed that they are conducting an investigation and have conducted four neighbourhood checks this month, but Chanel was not at home each time. Her phone is off, and the last social media activity was recorded in September.

The family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of a private investigator and their stay in Los Angeles. Chanel's mother, Judy, is asking for prayers for her daughter. She told KTLA: "Pray for my daughter because at this point, we don't know exactly [what happened]."

Chanel Maya Banks moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago to pursue her acting career. In addition to "Gossip Girl," she appeared in the series Blue Bloods and the film Twelve. The family is deeply concerned about Chanel's disappearance and is appealing to anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact the police. "I’m not going to leave California until I find my cousin," Danielle said.