Overview

• Full name: Amy Hillyard
• Age at disappearance: 52 years old
• Date last seen: March 25, 2026
• Last known area: 500 block of Radnor Road, Oakland, California
• City: Oakland
• County: Alameda County
• State: California
• Physical description: Approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, 120 pounds, blonde hair, hazel eyes
• Case classification: At-risk missing person
• Current status: Missing; investigation and searches ongoing as of October 2026
• Investigating agency: Oakland Police Department
• Reward: $25,000 for information leading to her safe return

Main circumstances: Hillyard disappeared after returning home from an appointment on March 25, 2026. Her phone, wallet, keys, and other personal belongings were left at home. Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage and explored possible connections to hiking trails she frequently visited. Police reported no evidence establishing an abduction, homicide, or other crime.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Amy Hillyard Missing in Oakland, California: The 2026 Disappearance of a Bay Area Coffee Shop Owner

On March 25, 2026, Amy Hillyard, a mother of two, community volunteer, and co-owner of Farley’s Coffee in the San Francisco Bay Area, disappeared from Oakland, California. What began as a missing-person investigation developed into an extensive search involving police, private investigators, family members, and hundreds of community volunteers.

More than six months later, her disappearance remained unexplained. Investigators examined surveillance footage, searched parks and hiking trails, and reviewed digital evidence in an effort to reconstruct her movements. Despite those efforts, no publicly confirmed discovery had established her whereabouts.

A significant development in September 2026 redirected search teams toward additional hiking trails in Oakland and Berkeley. The search continued into October, with her family maintaining hope that new information would help bring her home.

Case Summary

• Full name: Amy Hillyard
• Age at disappearance: 52 years old
• Date last seen: March 25, 2026
• Last known area: 500 block of Radnor Road, Oakland, California
• City: Oakland
• County: Alameda County
• State: California
• Physical description: Approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, 120 pounds, blonde hair, hazel eyes
• Case classification: At-risk missing person
• Current status: Missing; investigation and searches ongoing as of October 2026
• Investigating agency: Oakland Police Department
• Reward: $25,000 for information leading to her safe return

Main circumstances: Hillyard disappeared after returning home from an appointment on March 25, 2026. Her phone, wallet, keys, and other personal belongings were left at home. Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage and explored possible connections to hiking trails she frequently visited. Police reported no evidence establishing an abduction, homicide, or other crime.

Amy Hillyard’s Background and Life Before Her Disappearance

Amy Hillyard was known throughout the Bay Area as a business owner, mother, and active member of her community.

She and her husband, Chris Hillyard, co-owned Farley’s Coffee, a longstanding local business with locations in Oakland and San Francisco. The Oakland establishment, Farley’s East, became a gathering place for residents, workers, and visitors, while the San Francisco location was part of the city’s established neighborhood coffee culture.

In addition to her business responsibilities, Amy operated a consulting practice and contributed time to nonprofit organizations and community projects. She was involved with the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir and was recognized for her dedication to community service.

Family members described Amy as a loving mother and wife who maintained strong relationships with friends and neighbors. She and Chris had two daughters.

In the months preceding her disappearance, Amy had experienced several emotionally difficult events, including personal losses and family caregiving responsibilities. Her husband publicly discussed her treatment for depression and anxiety, explaining that she had been working toward recovery.

These circumstances became part of the public discussion surrounding her disappearance, but they do not establish what happened to her. There has been no publicly verified finding that her mental health caused her disappearance.

Amy also enjoyed hiking and spending time outdoors, particularly in the wooded parks and trails of the East Bay. Her familiarity with these locations later became an important consideration for investigators.

March 25, 2026: The Day Amy Hillyard Disappeared

On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Amy began her day at home in Oakland.

According to her husband’s account, the couple had breakfast together before he drove her to a Bay Area Rapid Transit station. Amy was traveling to Walnut Creek for a scheduled therapy appointment.

Transportation records reportedly confirmed her BART trips that day.

At approximately 1:40 p.m., Amy sent Chris a message indicating that she had returned home.

Oakland police initially reported that she was last seen around 2:00 p.m. in the 500 block of Radnor Road, near the family’s residence.

Family accounts indicate that she walked the family dog after returning home.

At some point afterward, Amy left the residence without several personal belongings, including her cellphone, wallet, keys, and handbag.

Her disappearance was especially concerning because she had not communicated plans to remain away from home.

Clothing and Physical Description

The Oakland Police Department’s initial March 26 missing-person bulletin described Amy as wearing a tan-colored top and tan pants.

Subsequent family search materials described a white short-sleeved shirt, light-colored jeans, and white sneakers with black stripes. These descriptions differ, and the later family description should not be treated as identical to the original police bulletin.

Amy was described as approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

Authorities classified her as an at-risk missing person because of medical conditions.

Surveillance Footage and Her Possible Route

Investigators obtained surveillance footage showing Amy leaving her residence on the day she disappeared.

Early reporting also discussed possible sightings or video evidence near Dimond Park, an area connected to Oakland’s network of parks and hiking trails.

However, investigators subsequently determined that footage of a person initially believed to be Amy at Diamond Canyon Park did not show her.

This distinction is important because an unconfirmed sighting cannot establish her movements.

By September, the family’s private investigator indicated that the confirmed surveillance evidence had not revealed where Amy went after leaving her home.

Her ultimate destination remained unknown.

Investigation History: Police, Volunteers, and Search Operations

Oakland Police Launch an At-Risk Missing-Person Investigation

On March 26, 2026, the Oakland Police Department publicly requested assistance locating Amy.

The department issued a missing-person bulletin containing her physical description, last-known location, clothing information, and a telephone number for tips.

The circumstances immediately attracted public attention because Amy had disappeared without belongings normally used for communication, transportation, and everyday activities.

Police examined potential leads and reviewed the circumstances surrounding her departure.

In April, the Oakland Police Department publicly stated that investigators had found no evidence indicating abduction, kidnapping, or another crime.

That assessment did not resolve the disappearance. It meant that the evidence available to police at that time did not establish criminal involvement.

Community Searches and Surveillance Reviews

Friends, family members, volunteers, and professional search personnel began organizing efforts throughout Oakland.

Hundreds of community members participated in searches, distributed missing-person flyers, and helped examine possible leads.

Investigators and volunteers reviewed surveillance footage from locations around the East Bay, hoping to identify Amy’s direction of travel after she left home.

Search efforts included parks, wooded areas, and trails associated with her interest in hiking.

The terrain presented difficulties because wooded parklands contain extensive trail networks, steep slopes, and areas where visibility can be limited by vegetation.

Despite the considerable public response, investigators did not establish a confirmed route that explained where Amy had gone.

May 2026: Family and Community Vigil

By late May, Amy had been missing for approximately two months.

On May 25, family members and friends gathered for a vigil to support the search and keep public attention focused on her disappearance.

The following day, regional news coverage documented the gathering and the family’s continuing efforts.

Her husband and daughters remained hopeful that Amy would be located.

The family also encouraged anyone who might have seen her or remembered something unusual from March 25 to contact investigators.

August 2026: Renewed Searches in Redwood Regional Park

On August 8 and 9, volunteers and search personnel carried out another coordinated effort in the Oakland Hills.

The operation focused on the Redwood Regional Park area, now known as Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, where Amy had enjoyed hiking.

Search teams received assistance from East Bay regional park personnel, and approximately 40 volunteers participated in the Sunday effort.

Private investigator Steve Fischer explained that the area was important to Amy and therefore deserved careful examination.

The operation reflected a working investigative possibility that she might have traveled toward familiar hiking areas.

However, searching a location because of its connection to Amy did not establish that she had actually visited it on the day she disappeared.

No confirmed discovery resolving the case was announced following the August search.

Theories and Unresolved Questions

Several possibilities have been considered in the search for Amy, but none has been publicly established as the explanation for her disappearance.

Did Amy Travel to a Familiar Hiking Trail?

One of the central investigative possibilities is that Amy left home intending to spend time outdoors.

She was familiar with hiking trails in Oakland and Berkeley, and investigators knew that walking in natural surroundings was meaningful to her.

The discovery of hiking-related internet activity on March 24 strengthened the rationale for searching those areas.

Nevertheless, looking up hiking routes does not prove that she visited any particular trail the following day.

Could an Accident Have Occurred?

Wooded areas and steep terrain can create hazards for hikers, including falls, injuries, and locations difficult for searchers to access.

An accident is therefore a possibility worth investigating, particularly in areas associated with Amy’s interests.

However, no publicly confirmed physical evidence has established that she suffered an accident, became injured, or entered a specific wilderness area.

Was Another Person Involved?

The possibility of criminal involvement has not been supported by publicly disclosed evidence.

Oakland police previously reported finding no indication of kidnapping, abduction, or another crime connected to Amy’s disappearance.

No suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified by police in the reviewed sources.

There is also no verified evidence establishing that Amy was killed.

Accordingly, her disappearance should continue to be described as an active missing-person case rather than a confirmed homicide.

Why Did She Leave Her Belongings Behind?

The fact that Amy’s cellphone, wallet, keys, and handbag remained at home is one of the most concerning circumstances.

It is not publicly known whether she intended to take a short walk, travel somewhere familiar, or leave for another reason.

Her personal circumstances and treatment history do not provide a definitive explanation.

Without reliable evidence showing her intentions or subsequent movements, these questions remain unresolved.

Latest Investigative Developments: September–October 2026

September 25, 2026: Family Renews Its Appeal

On the six-month anniversary of Amy’s disappearance, Chris Hillyard released a public video appealing for continued attention and assistance.

He described the emotional difficulty of not knowing what happened to his wife and acknowledged the efforts of police, investigators, and hundreds of volunteers.

The family confirmed that search operations were continuing and that drone technology was being used to examine locations where Amy had enjoyed hiking.

The $25,000 reward remained available for information leading to her safe return.

September 26–27, 2026: Digital Forensic Examination Reveals New Search Areas

One of the most consequential publicly reported developments occurred in late September.

Private investigator Steve Fischer disclosed that a forensic review of Amy’s computer activity revealed she had researched eight hiking routes on March 24, the day before she disappeared.

Investigators determined that three of the routes had already been searched, while five additional routes had not yet received the same attention.

Some of those routes were in Berkeley, expanding the geographic focus of the search.

The computer activity reportedly involved approximately 30 to 33 minutes of browsing.

This discovery provided investigators with specific locations to examine rather than relying solely on Amy’s general interest in hiking.

Importantly, the digital evidence showed that Amy researched those trails. It did not establish that she traveled to them on March 25.

Late September 2026: Volunteers Search Additional Trails

Following the digital forensic findings, search organizers mobilized volunteers to examine the newly identified areas.

Investigators and search teams used drones to capture aerial imagery of wooded terrain and areas difficult to inspect from the ground.

The images could then be reviewed for clothing, objects, or other possible indications of Amy’s whereabouts.

These searches represented a targeted expansion of existing investigative efforts, not confirmation that Amy had been located.

October 2, 2026: Family Confirms Searches Remain Active

On October 2, the Bring Amy Home campaign published an update confirming that more than 50 volunteers had recently searched trails throughout the Berkeley and Oakland Hills areas.

The searches included aerial drone support and were guided by information obtained through the investigation.

Organizers stated that the recent searches had not produced new evidence.

They also confirmed that another search was underway and that future operations would continue to follow available information.

This was a meaningful operational update, but it was not a breakthrough establishing Amy’s location.

Current Status as of October 28, 2026

The latest substantive family search update located for this article was dated October 2, 2026.

A secondary missing-person case listing was also updated on October 10, but that database activity does not itself represent a new investigative discovery.

As of October 28, no newer publicly confirmed development was located establishing that Amy had been found, that remains had been identified, or that a suspect had been arrested.

No publicly verified DNA identification, genetic genealogy result, criminal charge, or court proceeding resolving her disappearance was located.

Amy Hillyard’s case therefore remains an unresolved missing-person investigation based on the publicly available information reviewed.

Conclusion: The Continuing Search for Amy Hillyard

Amy Hillyard’s disappearance has left her family, friends, and community searching for answers since March 25, 2026.

The investigation has involved extensive volunteer participation, surveillance reviews, professional investigators, digital forensic analysis, and repeated searches of East Bay parks and trails.

Yet the central question remains unanswered: Where did Amy go after leaving her Oakland home?

Her family continues to seek her safe return and has maintained a $25,000 reward for information that helps bring her home.

Anyone who saw Amy in Oakland on March 25, noticed someone matching her description near local hiking trails, or possesses relevant photographs, video recordings, or other information is encouraged to contact the Oakland Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit at 510-238-3641.

Even information that seems minor could help investigators clarify her movements.

Amy’s family continues to hope for answers, and her disappearance remains an active concern for the Oakland community.