New Digital Clue Gives Search for Missing Oakland Coffee Shop Owner Amy Hillyard a New Direction

Six months after Oakland coffee shop owner Amy Hillyard disappeared, investigators have uncovered a new digital clue that is sending search teams toward hiking trails that had not previously been thoroughly searched.

Hillyard, 53, co-owner of Farley’s Coffee in Oakland and San Francisco, disappeared on March 25, 2026. On September 25, exactly six months after she was last seen, her husband, Chris Hillyard, released a video renewing the family’s appeal for information and promising that the search would continue.

The latest development came from a private investigation led by Steve Fisher, who was hired by the Hillyard family. Fisher said his team conducted a detailed extraction of data from Amy’s electronic devices and discovered that she had used her computer to visit the AllTrails website the day before she disappeared.

According to Fisher, the browsing history showed that Amy had looked at eight Bay Area hiking routes on March 24. Three of those routes had already been searched extensively, but five others—including routes in the Berkeley area—had not previously been on investigators’ radar.

The discovery has prompted a new search effort. Private investigators and volunteers are scheduled to begin examining the five additional routes on September 27, with the search expected to continue through the following week. Drones will also be used to survey portions of the trails and surrounding areas that may be difficult to inspect on foot.

Fisher cautioned that the browsing history does not prove Amy visited any of the eight trails after viewing them online. He described the information as significant because of the timing and because several of the locations had not previously been searched. Amy was known to enjoy hiking, and investigators have previously focused on areas around Oakland’s hiking trails.

Chris Hillyard has continued to urge the public to keep Amy’s disappearance in the spotlight. In his September 25 video, he said investigators and hundreds of volunteers were continuing to search by every available means, including drones in parks where Amy enjoyed walking and hiking. Teams have been reviewing high-resolution images for possible clothing or other clues.

Amy was last seen in Oakland on March 25. Earlier reporting indicated that she left behind her cellphone, wallet and other belongings, while surveillance footage showed her walking her dog after returning home. Oakland police previously said there was no evidence suggesting foul play, abduction or kidnapping, although the investigation remains open.

The family has continued offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to Amy’s safe return. She is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

For Amy’s family, the newly identified hiking routes bring both hope and uncertainty. Search teams now have several additional locations to examine, but there is still no confirmation that Amy ever reached any of them.

Six months after her disappearance, investigators and her loved ones continue searching for answers—and for any clue that could finally reveal what happened to Amy Hillyard.

Source: ABC7 news