Beloved SF Coffee Shop Owner Vanishes, Husband Shares Heartbreaking Details

Amy Hillyard's husband opens up about her mental health struggles before her disappearance.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:35pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of personal items including a cellphone, keys, and other belongings, lit by a harsh flash against a dark background, conveying the sense of an unsettling mystery surrounding Amy Hillyard's disappearance.The mysterious disappearance of a beloved San Francisco coffee shop owner has left her community searching for answers.Oakland Today

The husband of a beloved San Francisco coffee shop owner who has been missing for two weeks revealed harrowing new details about the day his wife, Amy Hillyard, vanished. Chris Hillyard said Amy was dealing with intense feelings of sadness and anxiety following recent personal losses, and had sought professional help, but disappeared after a therapy appointment, leaving behind her phone, keys, and other belongings.

Why it matters

Amy Hillyard's disappearance has shaken the close-knit San Francisco community, where her Farley's Coffee shop was a beloved local institution. Her husband's emotional account of her mental health struggles in the days before she went missing provides important context about the challenges she was facing, raising awareness about the need for better support systems for small business owners and others dealing with depression and anxiety.

The details

On the day Amy vanished, March 25, she and her husband Chris had breakfast together before he took her to a train station near their home so she could visit a therapist in Walnut Creek. After the appointment, surveillance video showed Amy returning home, speaking to a neighbor, and then taking the family dog for a walk. When Chris returned home around 3:15 p.m., he found Amy's cellphone, keys, and other belongings on the kitchen counter with the back door open, and the last known sighting of her was around 4:30 p.m. in Diamond Park. Authorities have searched the area but found no trace of Amy, who was dealing with the recent loss of a close family friend and one of their beloved dogs.

  • On March 25, Amy Hillyard was last seen around 4:30 p.m. in Diamond Park in Oakland.
  • On March 26, the Oakland Police Department and other authorities searched Skyline Gate, a large hiking area, but could not find Amy after hours of searching.

The players

Amy Hillyard

The 52-year-old co-owner of Farley's Coffee in San Francisco who has been missing for two weeks. She was dealing with intense feelings of sadness and anxiety following recent personal losses.

Chris Hillyard

The husband of Amy Hillyard who revealed harrowing new details about the day his wife vanished, saying she was struggling with her mental health and had sought professional help.

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What they’re saying

“The fact is that being without her medication is dangerous and that's why it's important to bring Amy home.”

— Chris Hillyard, Amy Hillyard's husband

“As each day goes by, it is more and more painful. As you can imagine, it's hard to sleep, and it's impossible to keep any kind of normal schedule.”

— Chris Hillyard, Amy Hillyard's husband

“Amy is precious to me, to her daughters, to her family and friends. She has always been there for others, and we are filled with gratitude that the community is there for her now, doing all it can to bring Amy home.”

— Chris Hillyard, Amy Hillyard's husband

What’s next

Volunteers and loved ones are planning another search event on Saturday, April 11, to canvas more neighborhoods with flyers and keep awareness strong about Amy's disappearance.

The takeaway

Amy Hillyard's disappearance highlights the need for better mental health support systems, especially for small business owners and others facing intense personal challenges. Her husband's emotional account underscores the devastating impact of losing a beloved community member and the importance of the public's help in bringing her home safely.