The family of Chanel Maya Banks, the actress who disappeared two weeks ago, is adamant that she has not been located, despite the police confirming her safe discovery.
After a two-week search, the Los Angeles Police Department found the 36-year-old in Texas on Monday.
The “Gossip Girl” actress revealed that she had fled from her family to be baptized by Pastor Robert Clancey, who recently preached about the “end times.”
However, Banks’ family remains skeptical that the woman found by the police is indeed Banks.
Banks’ cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, dismissed LAPD’s update as “fake news,” labeling the woman as an “imposter” and vowing to continue distributing “Missing Persons” flyers, as reported by ABC7.
“I have the still from Texas PD body cam footage that was shown to us on Monday, Nov 11, at the Pacific Police Station in LA,” Singh shared on her Instagram Story.
“This is the woman they’re claiming is Chanel. We have informed them that this is not Chanel. They did not listen to us and closed the case.”
“That’s why @ohhheychanel won’t post a video confirming she’s safe because it’s not Chanel,” added Singh, who flew in from Toronto to assist in the search.
Banks was reported missing by her mother and cousin after police conducted a welfare check at her Playa Vista, Calif., apartment.
Inside the apartment she shares with her husband, authorities found her belongings and dog, but no clues as to her whereabouts.
Shortly after the police’s announcement of her discovery, the actress, whose credits include “Blue Bloods,” maintained that she was never missing but left voluntarily to “escape my cage.”
“I have met with the Police and confirmed that I am not only OK but finally free,” she wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post.
“They say once you’re free in Christ Jesus, you’re free indeed, so I informed my husband six days ago that I was going to be baptized by one of my favorite pastors, Pastor Robert Clancy.”
Banks also made accusations of sexual abuse and manipulation against her family, without elaborating on the claims.
Singh previously expressed concern to ABC7 that something was amiss when they were unable to reach Banks.
“Five days without hearing from my cousin raised red flags and alarm bells,” Singh said. “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.”
However, the actress claimed in her post that she had not spoken to her cousin in “over 15 years.”
