Loved ones search for missing Bay Area coffeeshop owner

Amy Hillyard vanished from her Oakland home over a week ago, prompting a massive community response.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:03pm by Ben Kaplan

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Amy Hillyard, the co-owner of the popular Farley's coffeeshops in Oakland and San Francisco, went missing from her home in Oakland on March 25. Her unexpected disappearance has prompted a huge response from friends and family, who have been relentlessly searching the area and combing through security footage to try to find any clues about her whereabouts. Police and search and rescue teams have also been involved in the investigation, but so far the search has not yielded any new information.

Why it matters

Hillyard's disappearance has deeply impacted the local community, as she is a well-known and beloved business owner. The search efforts highlight the concern and care the community has for Hillyard and the urgency to find her and bring her home safely.

The details

Hillyard, 52, was last seen leaving her home on Radnor Road in Oakland around 2 p.m. on March 25. She is believed to have departed on foot. Police say Hillyard has an unspecified medical condition that makes her at-risk. Loved ones have been searching the area, including the Skyline Gate hiking trail, which was one of Hillyard's favorite places. Investigators have also been reviewing security camera footage from BART stations and asking residents in nearby neighborhoods to check their home cameras for any footage from the day Hillyard went missing.

  • Hillyard was last seen leaving her Oakland home around 2 p.m. on March 25.
  • On March 31, Oakland police and the Alameda County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team searched the Skyline Gate area.
  • On April 2, loved ones provided an update saying they are combing through hours of security footage and that police plan another video canvass that weekend.

The players

Amy Hillyard

The 52-year-old co-owner of the popular Farley's coffeeshops in Oakland and San Francisco who went missing from her Oakland home on March 25.

Chris Hillyard

Amy Hillyard's husband, who said the 'agony of her absence is devastating' and that the community of friends and volunteers searching for her are a 'source of strength' to their family.

Farley's

The small local chain of coffeeshops co-owned by Amy Hillyard, with locations in San Francisco, Oakland, and at the airports.

Oakland Police Department

The law enforcement agency investigating Hillyard's disappearance and coordinating search efforts.

Alameda County Sheriff's Office

The search and rescue team that assisted Oakland police in searching the Skyline Gate area.

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What they’re saying

“As more time goes by without Amy, the agony of her absence is devastating. We are still holding on to hope, thanks to Amy's community of friends and volunteers who continue to search every day. They are a source of strength to our family and me.”

— Chris Hillyard, Amy Hillyard's husband

What’s next

Investigators with the Oakland Police Department plan another video canvass of the area this weekend and continue to follow up on information reported to them.

The takeaway

The community's outpouring of support and relentless search efforts for the missing coffeeshop owner Amy Hillyard highlight the deep impact her disappearance has had on the local Bay Area community she is so deeply connected to.