Husband of beloved SF coffee shop owner reveals harrowing new details of the day she vanished

The husband of a Bay Area woman who has been missing for two weeks opened up about the mental health challenges his wife was dealing with the day she disappeared,

Amy Hillyard, 52, co-owner of Farley’s Coffee in San Francisco, was last seen on March 25 walking her dog near the 500 block of Radnor Road in Oakland. Witnesses reported she was wearing a tan top and tan pants at the time of her disappearance.  

Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, her husband Chris Hillyard said he is still holding out hope that she will return.

He said the mother of three was dealing with “intense feelings of sadness” following the loss of a close family friend and the death of one of their beloved dog, on top of handling major caretaking issues for relatives.

He said Amy, who “prides herself on being there for others, taking care of others,” was dealing with a lot and the “stressors took their toll.”

He added that her mental health situation had gotten bad enough that she sought help from a professional who prescribed medication to help Amy deal with feelings of anxiety and depression.

On the day Amy vanished, she and her husband had breakfast together before he took her to a train station near their home so she could visit a therapist in Walnut Creek.

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Chris said she texted him after she returned from the appointment around 1:40 p.m. Credit card activity showed she paid for the round trip to see the therapist.

Surveillance video showed that shortly after she got home, she took their dog for a walk and also spoke to a neighbor.

When Chris got home around 3:15 p.m., he said all he found was her cellphone, keys and other personal belongings on the kitchen counter with the back door open.

Other surveillance video put her last known location as Diamond Park around 4:30 p.m. before she disappeared. 

Days later, Oakland Police Department and other authorities searched Skyline Gate, a large hiking area, but they could not find her after hours of searching. The area was one of her favorite places to hike and walk, according to a new website set up to provide updates on case.

Since her disappearance, volunteers and loved ones have scoured the area and organized multiple search efforts.

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

“There’s no real explanation for why she has gone missing. She did not leave a note behind or any other clues.” 

Amy’s husband said the support from the community is what is holding the family together and “given them strength to continue,” per a message from the website set up to help find his wife.

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

“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.” 

The Oakland Police Department told the outlet that “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.” 

According to the search website for Amy: “Volunteers are planning another event on Saturday morning, April 11, to canvas more neighborhoods with flyers to keep awareness strong and the community focused on the search for Amy. “

Amy is described as standing 5-feet-4, weighing approximately 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes, according to a police description.

The California Post reached out to the Oakland Police Department for additional comment.