According to recent reports, an actress who had been declared missing by her family two weeks prior has been discovered safe and sound. Chanel Banks, renowned for her roles in shows like "Gossip Girl," went missing from her apartment, prompting her family to file a missing persons report with the Los Angeles Police Department. Authorities have now confirmed that she was located in Texas on November 11, emphasizing that no foul play was involved.
"She is fine," assured Charles Miller, an LAPD spokesperson, speaking to People magazine. "No danger. She is OK. She has been removed from the missing person system, and we have concluded our investigation."
Fox News Digital has attempted to reach out to both Banks' representative and the LAPD for further comment.
However, despite the official closure of the investigation, Banks' family remains unconvinced that the correct individual has been found. "They think they've seen her," stated Danielle-Tori Singh, Banks' cousin, during a press conference on Wednesday. "But that's not enough for us."
Singh revealed that she had viewed bodycam footage from Texas police, which depicted a thinner woman, dressed in attire that Banks would not choose, carrying a New York ID that had expired ten years prior. This led Singh to suspect that someone might be impersonating Banks.
In response to the family's inability to contact the actress, who has also appeared in "Blue Bloods," Singh set up a GoFundMe account to fund a private investigator. Her last communication with Banks was on October 30.
According to the family's GoFundMe page, welfare checks were conducted on November 7 and 8, but Banks was not present in her Playa Vista apartment on either occasion. When the family gained access to her apartment on November 10, all her belongings, except her phone and laptop, were still there. Notably, her dog was left behind, and her vehicle was parked in the complex's garage.
Singh traveled from Canada to Los Angeles to assist in the search, while Banks' mother flew in from New York. "Five days without hearing from my cousin raised red flags," Singh told ABC7 this week. "She never goes more than 48 hours without talking to me or her mom. She's like a big sister to me."
She added, "I feel deep in my soul, something is not right. It's been two weeks now, and we've heard nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Banks, who has also been credited as Chanel Farrell, has featured in several episodes of shows such as "Blue Bloods," "Twelve," and "Gossip Girl." In recent years, she has focused more on writing than acting.
