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The family of Gossip Girl actress Chanel Maya Banks are desperately searching for the star who has been missing for two weeks. The 36-year-old, who played Sawyer Bennett in the hit series, mysteriously disappeared in Los Angeles and her family claim her husband is not cooperating with the police.
Family members, including her mother Judy Singh and cousin Danielle-Tori Singh, have flown in to assist with the search after becoming concerned when she stopped contacting them.
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 residing with her husband for a year before her family suddenly lost contact with her. They found her belongings, including her car and dog, at their home but her laptop and phone were missing.
Danielle has been distributing flyers in the local area asking for help, but claims the star's husband is hindering their efforts. She alleged: "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," reports the Mirror.
Banks, who wed last November, has taken a break from acting to concentrate on her writing, her cousin revealed. Singh voiced her intuition that "something is not right".
"We're crossing two weeks now without a word, without a sound. Nothing," Singh expressed her concern to ABC7 News. To aid the search efforts, a GoFundMe campaign has been initiated.
Singh relayed to KTLA 5 details about the last communication she had with Banks, telling them: "I'm not going to leave California until I find my cousin."
In a heartfelt plea to Banks through the media, Singh said: "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."
Meanwhile, Banks' mother has called for prayers for her daughter, admitting the family are in the dark about the current situation.
Law enforcement has confirmed their involvement in the search to the press, noting several welfare checks at Banks' residence this month, none of which found her at home.
The pursuit for fame led Banks to Los Angeles a decade ago, hoping to make it as an actress. Her credits include appearances on Gossip Girl, roles on the renowned crime show Blue Bloods, and a part in the film Twelve.
On the GoFundMe campaign, Singh stated: "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."
Singh further explained the purpose of the GoFundMe page, saying: "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."
