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Oakland Holds Vigil as Search Continues for Missing Coffee Shop Owner

Two months after she vanished, family-raised funds and a $25,000 reward are sustaining private searches despite no major investigative breakthroughs.

Overview

  • Amy Hillyard, who was last seen on March 25, was captured on police video around 4:30 p.m. at Dimond Park and has not been located since.
  • Her family and volunteers have run repeated ground searches and hired private investigators to keep the search active and follow tips.
  • Supporters have raised money through a GoFundMe and increased a reward to $25,000 to pay for search dogs, drones and private search operations.
  • A vigil held in late May marked two months since Hillyard’s disappearance and featured family pleas for information, with her husband saying the uncertainty has been the hardest part.
  • Oakland police say the case remains open with no reported evidence of foul play and no major breakthroughs, and local advocates pointed to the city’s large annual caseload of missing-person reports as part of broader awareness efforts.