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The mystery deepens as the Gossip Girl star’s family insist the woman found in Texas is not her
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The mystery deepens as the Gossip Girl star’s family insist the woman found in Texas is not her

Chanel Maya Banks as Sawyer Bennett in season three of

Chanel Maya Banks as Sawyer Bennett in season three of “Gossip Girl” (The CW)

The Chanel Maya Banks family, the gossip girl actor who disappeared without a trace two weeks agoinsists she is still missing, despite authorities confirming she has been found safe.

After a two-week search, Los Angeles Police Department announced on Nov. 12 that after receiving a tip, they were led to a home in Texas, where a woman identified herself as Banks. Era reported that no foul play was suspected in her disappearance, and the case has since been closed.

However, after being informed of the LAPD’s update, Banks’ cousin Danielle-Tori Singh said it was “fake news” and vowed to continue distributing fliers describing Banks as missing. ABC 7 reported.

A few hours after the police announcement, an Instagram post shared from Banks’ verified Instagram account, claimed that she didn’t disappear and that she left voluntarily to “get out of my cage.”

She accused her family of sexual abuse and “manipulation” — it’s unclear if Banks made the allegations in the past or if police investigated them.

“I met with the Police and verified that not only was I okay, but I was finally free,” she continued. “They once say, you are free in Christ Jesus, you are free indeed, so I told my husband six days ago that I was going to be baptized by one of my favorite pastors, Pastor Robert Clancy.”

Chanel Maya Banks claims she didn't disappear, she left voluntarily to 'break out of my cage' (ohheychanel/TikTok)Chanel Maya Banks claims she didn't disappear, she left voluntarily to 'break out of my cage' (ohheychanel/TikTok)

Chanel Maya Banks claims she didn’t disappear, she left voluntarily to ‘break out of my cage’ (ohheychanel/TikTok)

According to his Instagram, Clancy, a revivalist pastor, was indeed in San Antonio, Texas, hosting a three-day conference of the Movement for Repentance Revival, November 8-10.

“So I made my Exodous and took my first-class Freedom Ride (on Spirit Air, no less) to the Promised Land,” she said, adding that she now wants freedom not only for herself, but for everyone “suffer in silence”.

Singh, who flew in from Toronto to help with the search, called the woman found in Texas an “impostor.”

“I have the photo from the Texas Police that was shown to us on Monday November 11th at the Pacific Police Station in LA,” she wrote in an Instagram story. “This is the woman they tell us is Chanel. I told them this is not Chanel. They didn’t listen to us and closed the case. That’s why @ohhheychanel won’t post a video saying it’s safe because it’s not Chanel.”

The Independent has reached out to the LAPD for comment.

Danielle-Tori Singh claims the woman found in Texas is not her cousin Chanel Maya Banks (Danielle-Tori Singh on Instagram)Danielle-Tori Singh claims the woman found in Texas is not her cousin Chanel Maya Banks (Danielle-Tori Singh on Instagram)

Danielle-Tori Singh claims the woman found in Texas is not her cousin Chanel Maya Banks (Danielle-Tori Singh on Instagram)

In a later story, Singh included a side-by-side image of the “impostor” woman found in Texas and “our Chanel.”

Banks was initially reported missing by her family, who said they had not seen or heard from her since October 30. Her relatives said it was very unusual for the actor not to stay in touch with them for more than a few days.

“Five days without hearing from my cousin are red flags and alarm bells,” Singh previously said. KABC. “She doesn’t go more than 48 hours without talking to me or her mom… That girl is more like a big sister to me.”

Police conducted four social checks at her home in the Playa Vista neighborhood Los Angelestwo on Nov. 7 and another two on Nov. 8, according to a decedent GoFundMe page launched by Singh to aid in their search.

Banks warned followers not to “donate to any GoFundMe that says I’m missing. I’m not missing.”

During those checks at the apartment — where Banks has lived with her husband of a year — authorities found her dog and belongings, but not Banks, it was reported.

Banks “doesn’t go anywhere without her dog, who also stayed behind. She also doesn’t have her vehicle because it’s parked in the garage. She would NEVER go anywhere without telling her mom or me,” Singh wrote on the fundraising page.

Singh also accused Banks’ husband of not cooperating with law enforcement and assisting in the search.

“He is not willing to help the LAPD. He is not willing to help me or her mother find her,” Singh told KABC. “He removes flyers from stations and cars.”