The mystery surrounding the missing 'Gossip Girl' actress is growing, as is the family, the LAPD

Depending on who you ask, Chanel Maya Banks is either a missing person who may be in danger or injured, or found and safe.

The Playa Vista actress known for her work on “Gossip Girl” as actor Sawyer Bennett and “Blue Bloods” as Maria Romano was reported missing Nov. 8 by her family, according to the LAPD. Her cousin, Danielle Tori-Singh, created a GoFundMe on Sunday.

“My cousin Chanel is missing,” Tori-Singh wrote.

Tori-Singh said the LAPD did two welfare checks at Banks' home and she didn't have time.

But on Wednesday, the LAPD told a different story. They reported that Banks was found safe in Texas on Sunday.

Tori-Singh called the report “fake news” and said her cousin was still missing. He said the woman found in Texas with an expired New York ID card at Banks' home was not actually his cousin.

“I knew for sure it wasn't him,” Tori-Singh said in an 8-minute Facebook video recorded in her car. “I have known him for 31 years. I know what you look like.”

But the LAPD dismissed his concerns.

“I can't control what the family says but for our purposes he was found on Nov. 11, 2024, in Texas,” LAPD Chief David Cuellar said. “He has grown up; if he wants to be in Texas he has every right to be.”

As of Wednesday, Banks was no longer on California's missing persons list.

A GoFundMe the family posted to raise money for the search effort, however, was not up Wednesday.

“Our Trust & Safety team works directly with the fundraiser and funds are held securely by our payment processors,” said Alex White, a GoFundMe spokesperson.

Tori-Singh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.