A STRANGE GAP IN TIME: Police say Amy Hillyard may have been experiencing a mental health crisis when she disappeared. But investigators are also reviewing testimony from those close to her, hoping to clarify exactly what happened inside the house that day.

The disappearance of Amy Hillyard, a 52-year-old beloved co-owner of Farley’s Coffee in the San Francisco Bay Area, has left her family, friends, and community in profound distress and confusion. On March 25, 2026, Amy vanished from her home in Oakland’s quiet Cleveland Heights neighborhood. More than two weeks later, as searches continue and new details emerge, a troubling “strange gap in time” has become central to the investigation. Police and family members acknowledge that Amy may have been navigating a mental health crisis, yet authorities are meticulously reviewing statements from those closest to her to reconstruct the precise events inside and around the family home that afternoon.

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Amy Hillyard was last seen around 2:00 p.m. on March 25 in the 500 block of Radnor Road, near her residence. She was described as wearing a tan-colored top and tan pants (or in some accounts, a white short-sleeved shirt, light-colored jeans, and white sneakers with black stripes). Standing 5-foot-4 and weighing about 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes, Amy is a familiar face in the Bay Area’s tight-knit coffee and community scenes. She and her husband Chris co-own Farley’s Coffee, a popular establishment known for its warm atmosphere and loyal clientele.

The day began ordinarily enough, according to Chris Hillyard’s recent public statements. The couple shared breakfast at home before Chris dropped Amy off at a nearby BART station so she could attend a therapy appointment. She returned home shortly afterward. About five minutes after arriving, she took their dog for a walk and even chatted briefly with a neighbor on her way back, as captured on neighboring surveillance footage. When Chris returned home around 3:15 p.m., he found the back door open. Amy’s personal belongings—her car keys, cellphone, wallet, and handbag—were left on the kitchen counter. This discovery immediately raised alarms.

Yet a puzzling gap emerges in the timeline between her return from the walk and the moment Chris arrived home. Surveillance video later placed Amy in the area of Dimond Park, at the base of Dimond Canyon with its network of hiking trails, around 4:30 p.m. that same day. How she moved from the house to the park area, what she did during those intervening hours, and why she left behind essential items remain unclear. Police have described this period as critical, noting the absence of evidence pointing to abduction or foul play at this stage.

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Cleveland Heights, a leafy residential neighborhood in Oakland characterized by charming older homes, sloping streets, and proximity to green spaces like Lake Merritt, is typically peaceful. The Hillyard family home sits in this established community, where neighbors know one another and daily routines feel familiar. The open back door and abandoned personal items inside created an eerie scene that contrasted sharply with the ordinary start to the day.

Chris Hillyard has spoken publicly for the first time in recent days, sharing harrowing new details while expressing unwavering hope that his wife is still alive. In an exclusive interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, he revealed that Amy had been working through significant mental health challenges in the months leading up to her disappearance. She was recovering from depression and anxiety triggered by multiple losses: the death of a close family friend, the passing of one of their beloved dogs, and the emotional toll of providing intensive caregiving for relatives. Overwhelmed by these “intense feelings of sadness,” Amy sought professional help and was prescribed medication for her depression and anxiety. Chris emphasized that she was “doing all the right things to heal” and actively working on her recovery when she vanished.

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This context has led police to consider the possibility that Amy was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of her disappearance. Oakland police have classified her as “at risk” due to an undisclosed medical condition, and they continue to urge the public to report any sightings. However, investigators are not stopping there. They are actively reviewing testimony from family members, neighbors, friends, and anyone who interacted with Amy in the days and hours before March 25. The goal is to build a clearer picture of what unfolded inside the house that day—including any conversations, emotional states, or subtle signs that might explain the sudden departure and the gap in the timeline.

Legal analysts and commentators, such as those featured in discussions by the Nieves Law Firm, have highlighted the importance of scrutinizing timelines in missing persons cases, especially when initial assumptions lean toward mental health or wandering. Questions persist about who Amy may have spoken with last, potential stressors in her personal or business life as a small business owner in Oakland, and the exact sequence of movements after she returned from walking the dog. Some observers note the unusual nature of leaving behind a cellphone and keys during a routine afternoon, prompting calls for a thorough examination of all relationships and community context.

Community response has been overwhelming. Hundreds gathered for prayer vigils and searches near Lake Merritt and Dimond Park. Volunteers and law enforcement have combed hiking trails in Dimond Canyon, an area known for its dense foliage, winding paths, and natural seclusion. Dimond Park and the adjacent canyon offer scenic but sometimes rugged terrain that could pose challenges for someone in distress.

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Farley’s Coffee, the business Amy helped build with her husband, stands as a testament to her role in the community. Customers and staff have shared memories of her warmth, her ability to “bring out everyone’s superpowers,” and her dedication to creating a welcoming space. Chris has described Amy as the “lynchpin” of their family and the business, someone who made him a better person and was always there for others. In a statement shared on a dedicated “Bring Amy Home” website, the family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support while acknowledging the “unbearable” pain of her absence. “We won’t stop searching for Amy until we have answers,” Chris said. “We believe she is still alive.”

As the investigation progresses, Oakland Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit continues to follow leads. They have stressed that, at present, there is no evidence of abduction, kidnapping, or any crime directly associated with her disappearance. Still, the strange gap in time—those hours between her return home, the open back door, and her appearance near Dimond Park—remains a focal point. Investigators are cross-referencing witness accounts, reviewing additional surveillance from the neighborhood and park area, and considering how mental health factors may have intersected with her movements.

The case has sparked broader conversations about mental health awareness, the challenges faced by small business owners, and the vulnerabilities that can arise even in familiar, supportive environments. Amy’s story resonates deeply in the Bay Area, where she is remembered not only as a successful entrepreneur but as a devoted mother of two daughters, a caring wife, sister, daughter, and friend. Her family has pleaded for the public’s continued help in locating her, emphasizing that any information, no matter how small, could be vital.

Mental health resources have been highlighted in coverage of the case. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. Crisis text line support is also reachable by texting “HOME” to 741741.

More than two weeks after Amy Hillyard walked out of her home on that Wednesday afternoon in late March 2026, the search continues with urgency and hope. Police and loved ones are piecing together testimony and evidence to close the strange gap in time and understand exactly what happened inside the house—and in the hours that followed. The community that Amy helped nourish through her coffee shop now rallies around her family, holding vigils, distributing flyers, and scanning trails in Dimond Canyon.

For now, the Hillyard family clings to belief in Amy’s resilience and the possibility of her safe return. “She is precious to me, to her daughters, to her family and friends,” Chris has said. The investigation remains active, with authorities appealing for anyone who saw Amy on or after March 25—particularly in the Dimond Park area or along hiking trails—to come forward.

This case serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly ordinary days can turn into mysteries, and how mental health struggles can intersect with daily life in ways that are not always visible. As investigators review every detail and testimony from those closest to Amy, the hope persists that clarity will emerge from the shadows of that strange gap in time, bringing Amy Hillyard home.