On March 25, 2026, Amy Hillyard, a 52-year-old co-owner of the popular Farley’s Coffee shops in Oakland, California, vanished in broad daylight from her Cleveland Heights neighborhood. A beloved community figure, mother of two, and business owner, Hillyard left behind her cell phone at home and has not been heard from since. She is considered at-risk due to undisclosed medical conditions, prompting an urgent, multi-agency search that has now entered its second week.
Recent developments have added to the mystery: her vehicle was located parked just three blocks from her home on Radnor Road. While the discovery initially raised hopes, Amy was not inside or nearby, deepening concerns about what happened during her final known movements.
Latest update on search for missing Oakland coffee shop owner Amy Hillyard: ‘Combing through hours of tapes’
The Timeline of a Disappearance
Hillyard was last seen around 2:00 p.m. on March 25 in the 500 block of Radnor Road in Oakland’s Cleveland Heights neighborhood, south of Lake Merritt. A neighbor reported seeing her walking her dog that afternoon. Her husband, Chris Hillyard, later contacted the neighbor after finding Amy’s cellphone at home, asking if anyone had seen her — an unusual detail that has troubled investigators and the family.
Subsequent surveillance footage updated the timeline, placing Hillyard near or in Dimond Park in East Oakland around 4:30 p.m. that same day — roughly two miles from her initial sighting. She was reportedly wearing a tan-colored top and tan pants (some alerts mention variations such as a white top, blue jeans, or white sneakers with a black stripe). Searches have concentrated heavily on the Dimond Park area, with volunteers and law enforcement combing trails and surrounding streets.
Missing person poster for Amy Hillyard circulating in Oakland businesses and neighborhoods.
The discovery of her vehicle just three blocks from home has puzzled authorities. It suggests she may have returned briefly or that someone else moved the car after her disappearance. No signs of struggle were immediately reported at the vehicle’s location.
The Camera Puzzle: An Empty Sidewalk Frame
Oakland Police detectives are now meticulously reviewing dozens of neighborhood security and doorbell cameras in an effort to reconstruct her exact path. One particularly haunting piece of footage reportedly shows Amy on a sidewalk in the moments before she seemingly vanished — followed by a later frame of the same empty sidewalk. This gap has become a focal point: what occurred in those critical seconds or minutes that caused her to disappear from view without trace?
The family has actively urged residents in Cleveland Heights, Lake Merritt, the Lakeshore District, Crocker Highlands, and surrounding areas to check their home surveillance systems for any sightings from the afternoon of March 25 onward. A dedicated website, bringamyhome.com, has been set up to coordinate public assistance and share updates.
Amy Hillyard: Search continues for missing Oakland coffee shop owner last seen in Dimond Park area – ABC7 San Francisco
Search efforts have included volunteers and law enforcement in areas like Dimond Park, where video placed Hillyard later in the afternoon.
Community Response and Ongoing Search
Amy Hillyard is well-known in Oakland as a dedicated business owner and community advocate. She and her husband Chris run Farley’s Coffee, a beloved local chain, and she has been involved with the East Bay Children’s Choir. Vigils, candlelight gatherings, and volunteer searches have drawn hundreds, reflecting the deep concern in the tight-knit East Bay community.
Law enforcement from Oakland PD, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and mutual aid from neighboring counties have participated in ground searches. A California Highway Patrol emergency alert was issued days after her disappearance to broaden awareness.
As of early April 2026, no arrests or persons of interest have been publicly named. Police continue to treat the case as a missing person investigation while keeping all possibilities open.
