Husband Continues Search for Wife 6 Months After She Disappears, Then Lead Searcher Finds Crucial Clue

September 28, 2026 9 Min Read

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Six months After Amy Hillyard is missing without a trace, his family is still searching for answers.

California mother and cafe owner was last seen walking your dog in Oakland on March 25, and investigators have spent months trying to piece together what happened next.

A private detective has now discovered new information hidden in Amy’s devices.

Highlights

Amy Hillyard disappeared after walking her dog in Oakland on March 25.
A private investigator discovered eight hiking routes that Amy had viewed online the day before she disappeared.
Investigators are digging into the new leads while reviewing surveillance footage and using drones to obtain additional clues.

Investigators also use drones and reviewing surveillance footage as her husband, Chris Hillyard, continues to hope that one small clue might finally lead them to her.

Amy Hillyard disappeared after walking with her dog

Husband Continues Search for Wife 6 Months After She Disappears, Then Lead Searcher Finds Crucial Clue

The 52-year-old owns Farley’s Coffee in San Francisco with her husband, Chris. She was last seen around 2 p.m. on March 25 near the 500 block of Radnor Road in Oakland’s Cleveland Heights neighborhood.

A neighbor reportedly saw her walking her dog shortly before her disappearance. Amy wore a beige top and beige pants.

Her husband later said Amy had left her cell phone at home. When he returned home around 3:15 p.m., he found his phone, keys and other personal items on the kitchen counter. The back door was open and her dog was found safe inside the house.

Amy is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Police consider her to be at risk due to health problems.

His disappearance left family and friends searching for answers for months.

The most significant development occurred after Amy’s family hired a private investigator.

Amy’s family hired private investigator Steve Fischer, who has worked on missing persons cases across the country.

Fischer recently conducted what he described as a “deep forensic dive” into Amy’s devices and apps.

Investigators spent two days examining the information on his devices. During this search, they discovered that Amy had used Chrome the day before she disappeared to hike eight different hiking routes.

The routes started from the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park area and headed toward Berkeley.

Investigators already knew of three of these routes and had searched them. The other five were new.

“These are areas that frankly weren’t on our radar,” Fischer said. SF door.

The routes are approximately five miles from Amy’s home. Fischer said Amy had already hiked all but one of the trails.

Some trails are also long, spanning approximately 6 ½ to 7 miles.

A small research team planned to begin checking the newly discovered routes as the investigation continued.

Hiking searches aren’t based solely on what investigators found in one’s browser history.

Fischer said Amy’s journal entries showed hiking was one of the ways she dealt with her anxiety.

This detail gave even more importance to the newly discovered routes.

Amy had also struggled with mental health issues after suffering several losses. Her husband said she sought professional help for her anxiety and depression and was prescribed medication.

Chris previously said Amy saw a therapist the day she disappeared.

She returned home around 1:40 p.m. and texted him to tell him she was back. Surveillance footage later showed her taking the dog outside and talking with a neighbor.

What happened next remains unclear.

Private investigators also use drones and search for security footage.

The private investigation extended beyond the hiking trails.

Fischer and Investigator Steve Gelinske were searching for surveillance footage of homes and businesses near the area where Amy was last seen.

The team asked residents and building owners to check security cameras and Ring footage from the afternoon of March 25.

They are particularly interested in images of Cleveland Heights, the Park Boulevard corridor, the MacArthur Boulevard area, Trestle Glen and Crocker Highlands.

Investigators want people to share images even if they think they contain nothing useful.

They also review images that may have already been verified.

“With 100 percent certainty, I believe there is a piece of surveillance that contains a clue,” Fischer said.

The team used drones, visited the owners and mapped out possible routes Amy could have taken.

Fischer said Amy’s friends and volunteers have already done a lot of work creating maps, going door to door and researching park trails. The private team now uses this information to target the search.

After six months, Amy’s family still has hope

Six months without answers has been extremely difficult for Amy’s loved ones, but Chris said the family hasn’t stopped looking.

“Yet we all keep trying, and every day we wake up with a glimmer of hope that today will be the day that brings information that will offer an answer to Amy’s whereabouts,” he said in a video marking six months since her disappearance.

A $25,000 reward remains available for information that could help solve the mystery.

Amy’s friends and family also created BringAmyHome.com, where people can follow developments and learn how they can contribute to research.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Authorities have previously said there was no evidence of foul play, kidnapping or abduction at the time. That means investigators are still working to figure out what happened after Amy left her home and where she went afterward.

Husband Continues Search for Wife 6 Months After She Disappears, Then Lead Searcher Finds Crucial Clue

Highlights

Amy Hillyard disappeared after walking with her dog

The most significant development occurred after Amy’s family hired a private investigator.

Hiking searches aren’t based solely on what investigators found in one’s browser history.

Private investigators also use drones and search for security footage.

After six months, Amy’s family still has hope

“Sick people outside,” wrote a user

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