Husband Discloses Mental Health Struggles of Missing California Coffee Shop Owner
The husband of a California Bay Area coffee shop owner who vanished without a trace has provided new insights into the personal struggles the devoted mother and caretaker was confronting before her disappearance. Amy Hillyard, aged 52, went missing on March 25 after she was last observed walking the family dog in the Cleveland Heights neighborhood of Oakland.
At-Risk Status and Family Concerns
The Oakland Police Department has classified the mother of two as at risk due to an undisclosed medical condition, heightening concerns for her safety. As the urgent search for Amy persists, her husband, Chris Hillyard, with whom she co-owns Farley's Coffee, has revealed that she was actively addressing mental health challenges when she disappeared.
Chris explained to the San Francisco Chronicle that Amy was in the process of recovering from depression and anxiety, triggered by the deaths of a close friend and one of the family's dogs, compounded by the stress of providing extensive care for close relatives. 'Amy prides herself on being there for others, taking care of others, and all of these stressors took their toll,' he stated.
Medical Treatment and Disappearance Details
According to Chris, his wife had sought professional assistance and was prescribed medication for depression and anxiety prior to her disappearance. '[Amy was] working on recovering and doing all the right things to heal. The fact is that being without her medication is dangerous, and that's why it's important to bring Amy home,' Chris emphasized. He added that there is no clear explanation for her vanishing, as she left no note or other clues behind.
On the day she went missing, Chris reported that they shared breakfast at home before he dropped her off at a transit station for a therapy appointment. Amy texted him around 1:40 PM to confirm her return home and a transit ticket charge on her credit card. Surveillance footage later captured her walking the dog and conversing with a neighbor.
When Chris arrived home at approximately 3:15 PM, he found the back door open and Amy's belongings—including car keys, cellphone, wallet, and handbag—on the kitchen counter. Police noted that at 4:30 PM, she was seen on surveillance video near Dimond Park, located at the base of Dimond Canyon and its hiking trails.
Police Investigation and Community Efforts
Oakland police have indicated that they do not suspect foul play in Amy's disappearance. 'At this time, there is no evidence to suggest foul play. At present, there is no evidence of abduction, kidnapping, or any other crime associated with her disappearance,' the department clarified. A search of the area on March 31 yielded no traces of Amy.
In a heartfelt appeal, Chris published a video on YouTube under the account Bring Amy Home, describing his wife's positive influence. 'Amy's superpower is to bring out the best in people. She made me a better person. She makes most people she comes in contact with a better person,' he said. 'She's able to bring out everyone's superpowers. Now we need those powers to bring her home. Community is a big part of who Amy is. She loves to bring people together.'
He expressed the family's anguish, stating, 'My daughters and I, of course, love Amy unconditionally. We're suffering, and we just want her to come home.' Chris affirmed their determination to continue searching until answers are found, believing she is still alive.
Physical Description and Public Appeal
Amy Hillyard is described as a 52-year-old white female, standing 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a tan-colored top and tan pants. The Oakland Police Department's Missing Persons Unit urges anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward immediately.
