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A beloved Oakland, California, coffee shop owner and mother of two has disappeared under mysterious circumstances, prompting an immediate search as police warn she may be at risk due to a medical condition.
Amy Hillyard, 52, was last seen around 2 a.m. Wednesday near her home on Radnor Road in the Oakland neighborhood of Cleveland Heights, near Lake Merritt, according to the Oakland Police Department. A neighbor told KTVU that he left without his cell phone, and authorities say he hasn’t been heard from since.
Investigators have released few details about her condition, but say it is serious enough to classify her as a missing person at risk.
Hillyard is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Police say he was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers with a black stripe.
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Amy Hillyard, a 52-year-old Oakland coffee shop owner and mother of two, was last seen on March 25, 2026, and is considered at risk, according to police. (Cyrena Hillyard Facebook)
His disappearance sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Oakland community, where Hillyard was widely known as a popular local store owner and active community leader.
Friends, employees and customers say his absence is highly out of character.
“We’re looking for his home,” a former co-worker told KTVU. “He loves his family, especially his two girls. He is passionate about everything he does.”
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A missing person poster for Amy Hillyard has been displayed in Oakland, Calif., as police search for the 52-year-old woman who is at risk. (Oakland Police Department)
Missing posters featuring his image now line the busy streets of Grand Avenue and his shop windows, where regulars describe him as warm, generous and deeply connected to the neighborhood.
“This whole thing is sad and shocking,” store regular Lynn Lazarus told KTVU.
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Hillyard’s impact extends beyond his business. In addition to co-managing the restaurant, he runs a consulting business, where he has advised leaders of organizations including Apple, Gap, Electronic Arts and the Marine Mammal Center, according to his website.
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Amy Hillyard is the owner of Farley’s Coffee Shop in Oakland. (Farley’s East Facebook)
He has also devoted significant time to non-profit and community service, serving on boards and leading pro bono efforts. Hillyard is the board president of the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir.
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In a statement sent to KTVU, choir officials said the news deeply affected those who knew them.
“This is incredibly difficult news for our immediate community. Amy is a very important part of our organization, and our hearts go out to her and her loved ones as we hope for her safe return,” the group said. “Thank you for keeping Amy in your thoughts and for your support during this time.”
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Hillyard and her husband also operate a second cafe in San Francisco, and are expanding their presence in the Bay Area.
Her husband said in a statement that the family was overwhelmed by the support of the community as the search intensified.
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Anyone with information about Hillyard’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Oakland Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit at (510) 238-3641.
Police have yet to say where the case stands, but they stress that time is of the essence in finding missing and endangered people.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicide and immigration crime. Send news tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
