A 15-MINUTE WINDOW: Investigators Believe Amy Hillyard Vanished in a Narrow Gap as Cameras Capture Movement Before and After — But Her Path Simply Disappears

As the search for missing Oakland café owner Amy Hillyard enters its third week, investigators are focusing on a critical 15-minute window during which the 52-year-old woman appears to have vanished from view in her own neighborhood. Surveillance cameras in Cleveland Heights and near Dimond Park captured her movements both before and after this narrow timeframe on March 25, 2026 — yet in the middle of those clips, her path simply disappears, leaving detectives and the community grappling with one of the most puzzling aspects of the case.

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Timeline Tightens Around Ordinary Afternoon Movements

Amy Hillyard, co-owner of the beloved Farley’s Coffee shops in Oakland and San Francisco, was last seen around 2:00 p.m. on the 500 block of Radnor Road in Cleveland Heights, near Lake Merritt. She had left her cell phone at home and stepped out for what family members believed would be a short walk. Later that afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., surveillance footage placed her in the vicinity of Dimond Park, where she was seen walking alone along familiar paths and streets.

Between these confirmed sightings — and particularly within a tight 15-minute segment — her visible trail on available cameras ends abruptly. Multiple video sources show activity on the streets and sidewalks before and after this window, but Amy’s tan-clad figure is no longer accounted for once she passes certain points. Police have reviewed more than 50 cameras, including private doorbell and security systems, in an intensive video canvass of the residential area.

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These doorbell cameras, common in the quiet, tree-lined streets of Cleveland Heights, often provide clear timestamped views of pedestrians. Detectives are now meticulously analyzing the footage for that exact moment when movement continues on screen — cars passing, neighbors walking dogs, everyday life unfolding — but Amy’s path simply stops appearing.

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The Neighborhood and the Park: Familiar Ground Turns Mysterious

Cleveland Heights is a peaceful residential area with homes, driveways, and proximity to green spaces. Dimond Park, with its wooded trails, canyon, and hiking paths, is a local favorite for walks and exercise — a place Amy knew well.

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The 15-minute window likely falls sometime after she left Radnor Road and before or during her movements near the park. No signs of distress or struggle have been reported in the footage, and authorities have stated there is currently no evidence of foul play, abduction, or any crime. Amy is classified as “at risk” due to an undisclosed medical condition, and she had been navigating depression and anxiety following personal losses, including the death of a close friend and one of the family’s dogs. She had attended a therapy appointment earlier that day and was on medication.

Her husband, Chris Hillyard, has shared emotional updates, including a recent video message, expressing the family’s “unbearable” suffering while maintaining hope that Amy is still alive and can be brought home. He described her as someone with a “superpower” for bringing out the best in others and emphasized the community’s role in the search.

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Amy Hillyard: Search continues for missing Oakland coffee shop owner last seen in Dimond Park area – ABC7 San Francisco

Community Response: Hours of Tapes and Ongoing Searches

Volunteers, alongside Oakland Police Department (OPD) and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office teams, have conducted multiple searches in Dimond Park and other nearby areas, including Skyline Gate at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park. Friends and family continue combing through hours of private surveillance tapes, checking BART stations, streets, and any potential routes Amy might have taken.

Candlelight vigils have been held, and missing person posters remain visible in shop windows and throughout the Bay Area. Farley’s Coffee, the community hub Amy helped build, stands as a reminder of her warmth and contributions.

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joe.coffee

Why This 15-Minute Window Matters

In an era of widespread surveillance, the sudden absence in the middle of captured activity creates a haunting gap. Cameras recorded the “before” and “after,” but the critical middle — those 15 minutes — holds the unanswered questions. Did Amy enter a less-monitored area, such as denser park trails? Did she change direction in a way not captured? Or did something happen that remains invisible to the lenses?

The investigation remains active, with no confirmed sightings since March 25. Her phone and belongings left behind, combined with the medical context, add layers of concern but also hope that she may be disoriented and in need of assistance.

How You Can Help Bring Amy Home

Anyone with information — especially video footage from March 25 between approximately 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Cleveland Heights, Radnor Road, Dimond Park, or surrounding areas — is urged to contact the Oakland Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit at (510) 238-3641.

Description recap: Amy Hillyard, 52-year-old white female, 5’4”, 120 lbs, blonde hair, hazel eyes. Last seen wearing a tan-colored top and tan pants (additional reports note a white short-sleeved top, blue jeans or light-colored jeans, and white sneakers with black stripes). She may appear disoriented due to her medical condition.

The tight-knit Bay Area community that Amy helped foster through her café and kindness continues to rally. The 15-minute window may be narrow, but the determination to fill it with answers is wide. Every reviewed clip, every shared tip, and every volunteer hour brings the family closer to resolution.

If you saw something — no matter how ordinary it seemed at the time — please speak up. Amy Hillyard’s family, friends, and the wider community are waiting for her safe return.