In an emotional plea that has gripped the entire San Francisco Bay Area, the husband of beloved coffee shop owner Amy Hillyard has broken his silence two weeks after her shocking disappearance, thanking hundreds of volunteers and revealing the serious mental health struggles his wife was quietly fighting — including a dangerous gap in her prescribed medication that now makes every passing hour more critical.

Amy Hillyard, the 52-year-old co-owner of the popular Farley’s Coffee shops in Oakland and San Francisco, vanished on March 25 from her Cleveland Heights neighborhood near Lake Merritt in Oakland. The devoted mother of two, known for her warm smile, community spirit and ability to “bring out the best in everyone,” was last seen walking the family dog around 5 p.m. that day. Video footage later placed her in nearby Dimond Park earlier in the afternoon, but after that — nothing. No phone. No car. No wallet. Just an open back door at home and her personal belongings left on the kitchen counter.

Now, in a raw and deeply personal interview and video message, her husband Chris Hillyard has opened up about the hidden pain Amy was carrying — and why finding her quickly is a matter of life and death.

“Amy was working on recovering and doing all the right things to heal,” Chris said, his voice heavy with love and worry. Overwhelmed by the recent death of a close family friend and the loss of one of their beloved dogs, plus the heavy burden of caretaking for relatives, Amy had sought professional help. She was attending regular therapy sessions and had been prescribed medication for depression and anxiety. On the very day she disappeared, she had attended a therapy appointment before walking the dog.

But when she vanished, her medication was left behind at home — a fact that has sent chills through everyone following the case.

“The fact is that being without her medication is dangerous, and that’s why it’s important to bring Amy home,” Chris stressed. Police had already classified her as “at risk” due to a medical condition, and now the full picture is painfully clear: Amy was fighting hard to get better, but the sudden disappearance has left her vulnerable without the treatment she needed.

Chris described the ordinary start to that fateful day. The couple shared breakfast together at home. He dropped her off at a BART station so she could get to her therapy session. When he returned home around 3:15 p.m., the back door was open, and Amy’s car keys, cellphone, wallet and handbag were sitting on the kitchen counter — as if she had simply stepped out for a moment and never came back.

The family’s private world has been thrust into the spotlight. Amy, who co-owns the community-loved Farley’s East in Oakland with Chris and another location in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill, is more than just a business owner. She is a mother, a wife, a friend who lifted people up and made everyone around her feel stronger. “She made me a better person,” Chris said in a heartfelt video message released this week. “She’s able to bring out everyone’s superpowers. Now we need those powers to bring her home.”

Hundreds of volunteers have answered that call. Search parties have combed neighborhoods, parks and trails. Flyers blanket the area. Candlelight vigils have drawn crowds of supporters. Oakland police and Alameda County Sheriff’s search and rescue teams continue their efforts, reviewing surveillance footage and following every lead. Chris expressed overwhelming gratitude to the community that has rallied around his family during what he called “unbearable” agony.

“As more time goes by without Amy, the agony of her absence is devastating,” he shared. “But the support from the community is what is holding us together and giving us strength to continue. We won’t stop searching for Amy until we have answers. We believe she is still alive.”

The outpouring of love reflects the life Amy built. Her coffee shops are more than places to grab a latte — they are neighborhood hubs where people connect, feel seen, and find comfort. Amy herself had a superpower for making others feel better, and now that same community is pouring that energy back into the desperate hunt to find her.

Friends and neighbors describe a woman who was always there for others, even while quietly battling her own intense feelings of sadness. The losses she endured — a close friend and a family pet — hit hard, piling on top of caregiving responsibilities that left her overwhelmed. She took the brave step of seeking help, showing up for therapy and starting medication. She was doing everything right. Then she simply disappeared.

Police emphasize there is no indication of foul play at this stage, but Amy’s vulnerability due to her untreated condition makes the situation urgent. Without her medication, the risks are real and potentially life-threatening. Every day that passes without a sighting heightens the fear for her family and friends.

Chris and their two daughters are leaning on each other and the incredible wave of community support. In his video message marking day 15 of the search, he thanked volunteers who have given their time, energy and hearts, along with law enforcement for their relentless work. The family, known for keeping their private life private, has stepped forward because hope and visibility are their best tools right now.

The search has expanded across Oakland neighborhoods, with another major volunteer canvassing event planned. Posters with Amy’s photo — showing her warm smile and blonde hair — are everywhere. She was last seen wearing a tan top and tan pants. Anyone who spots her or has information is urged to contact Oakland police immediately.

This case has touched a nerve across the Bay Area. Coffee lovers who frequent Farley’s have shared stories of Amy’s kindness. Parents worry about the hidden struggles many face. Mental health advocates point to the importance of support systems and the dangers of going without necessary medication.

For Chris Hillyard, the pain is personal and profound. He describes his wife as precious — to him, to their daughters, to everyone who knows her. She has always been the one supporting others; now the roles are reversed, and the community has stepped up in a powerful way.

Yet the uncertainty is crushing. Two weeks without a single solid lead. Her phone and keys left behind. The open back door. The medication sitting unused at home. Every detail adds to the torment of not knowing.

Still, Chris holds onto hope. “We believe she is still alive,” he repeats, a message of determination in the face of fear. The family refuses to give up. Volunteers refuse to stop searching. The Bay Area refuses to forget one of its own.

Amy Hillyard built a life around community, connection and care. Now that community is fighting to bring her back safely — before the absence of her medication turns a desperate situation even more dangerous.

If you see Amy or have any information, contact Oakland Police immediately. Her family, her daughters, her customers and her friends are waiting.

The search continues. The hope endures. And the powerful reminder rings out from a heartbroken husband: Amy is precious, she was healing, and she needs to come home — now.