CANDLELIT VIGIL FOR COFFEE SHOP OWNER

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: CANDLELIT VIGIL FOR COFFEE SHOP OWNER

Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace
Guests: Brian Fitzgibbons (USPA Nationwide Security), Dave Mack (Investigative Reporter), Dr. Rachel Toles (Forensic Psychologist), Joanna Nieves (Criminal Defense Attorney), Amy Hilliard’s friends and community members

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Nancy Grace focuses on the mysterious disappearance of Amy Hilliard, a beloved Oakland coffee shop owner. As her community holds a candlelight vigil, Nancy assembles an experienced panel to analyze the known facts, address concerning double standards in missing persons cases involving women, and urge listeners to help in the search. The episode combines expert insights with emotional community reflections, painting a vivid picture of a case that has rattled an entire neighborhood.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Case Background and Timeline

• Amy Hilliard’s Disappearance
  • Amy (co-owner of Farley's Coffee) vanished “without warning,” leaving behind her family and a distressed community.
  • Last seen at her Oakland home around 2:00 PM; seen again on surveillance in Diamond Park at 4:00–4:30 PM ([03:32–05:10], [07:16–08:10]).
  • She left her phone at home, highly unusual for a missing person's case ([05:10]).
• Community Response
  • Immediate and extensive community involvement: over 200 volunteers canvassed neighborhoods, seeking camera footage ([13:27]).

2. Diamond Park: Setting and Search Challenges

• Description of Diamond Park
  • Described as beautifully maintained, well-lit with playgrounds, sports facilities, and walking trails, often giving a “false sense of security” ([06:40], [08:20], [09:22]).
• Surveillance and Trail Complexity
  • Surveillance footage confirms Amy at 4:30 PM in the park, but it's unclear if it was at a trail entrance or deep in the park ([12:12], [39:49]).
  • The park also connects to secluded trailheads north towards Shepherd Canyon, complicating searches and raising fears she could be lost or hidden ([11:07], [12:53], [38:42]).
• Access and Escape Routes
  • Park is near major roads (Route 13, 580, and MacArthur Blvd), offering easy in/out access for potential abductions ([23:06], [24:07], [39:49]).

3. Victimology and Public Perception

• Amy’s Profile
  • “Linchpin” of her community, runs Farley’s Coffee, organized events like knitting groups, involved in nonprofits, no high-risk behaviors ([41:52], [49:40], [49:40]–[50:19]).
  • Disappearance is “shocking” and “completely out of character”—she never missed work or lost contact ([41:15]).
• False Narratives and Double Standards
  • Panel discusses the problematic default assumption that missing women “ran off,” while missing men don’t face this scrutiny ([14:35]–[17:23]).
  • Dr. Rachel Toles: “It is very strange and it is a double standard...” ([14:35]).
  • Joanna Nieves: “People are always looking for a reason… it’s easier to digest that somebody voluntarily left their phone behind…” ([16:26]).

4. Timeline and Investigation Concerns

• Two- and-a-half Hour Gap
  • Between Amy leaving home (2:00 PM) and being seen at Diamond Park (4:30 PM): what happened in that window? Route wouldn’t usually be walked ([07:16–08:10]).
• Lost Search Time
  • Early search focused on the wrong area—her Lake Merritt neighborhood—before Diamond Park surveillance surfaced, costing several crucial days ([25:05]–[26:59]).
    • Nancy Grace: “That is brutal. Did you hear what Dave Mack said? Days were lost searching the wrong area.” ([25:55])
• Ongoing Investigation
  • Standard practice: Investigators start with family and closest contacts to build a victimology, but all evidence points away from voluntary disappearance ([44:02], [41:15], [49:40]).
  • Emphasis on the importance of forensically interviewing friends and family for a full, unbiased picture ([47:32]).

5. Public Safety and Risk Perception

• False Security in Familiar Settings
  • Extensive discussion about how idyllic parks and daylight hours can lull people into unsafe habits—e.g., leaving phones behind ([31:26]–[36:44]).
    • Nancy Grace: “Much the same thing when people go to these beautiful but heavily wooded forests… that automatically signals safe. They see lighting, they see surveillance cams, and that signals safety.” ([29:49])
    • Dr. Rachel Toles: “People can’t live in a constant state of fear... the idea of being able to go in nature and take a breath and believe... puts us at risk, especially if we’ve decided not to take our cell phones.” ([36:06])
• Medical Vulnerability
  • Family shared Amy had a medical condition, specifics undisclosed, elevating concern ([31:54]–[32:10]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nancy Grace, on fake narratives:
  “I hate it. Hate, hate, hate when someone says they just disappeared like it’s a vanishing act. That’s not what happened.” ([03:39])
• Community Member (at vigil):
  "One of the things that defines Amy, one of her favorite words is the word hope. And so tonight we're expressing our hope that we find her." ([06:02])
• Brian Fitzgibbons, Security Expert:
  “It’s important to note that there was no one else with her on that surveillance footage… There is no additional person of interest that investigators can be looking for at this time.” ([21:53])
• Dave Mack, Investigative Reporter:
  “We lost several days of looking for Amy early on.” ([25:15])
• Dr. Rachel Toles, on risk:
  “We often see people thinking, ‘Well, I just want to walk in nature... I’ll just go into the denser area.’ But of course, that’s not wise because it puts you at risk.” ([31:26])
• Joanna Nieves, Criminal Defense:
  “People are always looking for a reason to place on something rather than… going to the route of hey, somebody took this person and against their will.” ([16:26])
• Friend on Amy’s character:
  “She’s the linchpin in a lot of our relationships. She’s the linchpin at her coffee shop. She has fed hundreds, if not thousands of people through her coffee shop.” ([41:52])

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:19] Episode content begins: Nancy Grace introduces disappearance and panel
• [05:10] Surveillance and unusual behavior (phone left at home)
• [06:02] Emotional clip: Community’s “hope” at vigil
• [07:16]–[08:10] Timeline & location gap explained by Dave Mack
• [09:22]–[11:54] Diamond Park details, trail system, and search challenges
• [14:35]–[17:23] Expert panel on double standards in missing women’s cases
• [21:53]–[23:41] Why Amy being alone on surveillance matters
• [25:05] Lost search time and its consequences
• [31:26]–[36:44] False sense of security in safe-seeming settings, cell phone risk, and vulnerability
• [41:15]–[42:51] Evidence of Amy’s routine, impact on those she touched, and personal connections
• [47:32] Importance of forensically interviewing close contacts
• [49:40] “Not high-risk activity”—Victimology and why this is so concerning

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Tone & Takeaways

Nancy Grace’s signature assertiveness and sense of urgency dominate the episode, driving home both the facts of the case and the emotional resonance within the community. The tone oscillates between analytical (timeline break-downs, search strategy critiques) and profoundly empathetic (community members’ testimonies, expressions of hope and worry).
The panel repeatedly rebuffs stereotypes about missing women and redirects focus to the evidence, emphasizing Amy’s routine, strong community ties, and the abnormality of her disappearance.

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Actionable Information

• Police Tip Line: Oakland PD 510-238-3641 ([50:19])
• If you live or work near Diamond Park or Lake Merritt and have relevant surveillance footage from March 25th, you may help the case.

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Summary prepared for those seeking a comprehensive, immersive understanding of Amy Hilliard’s case as covered by Nancy Grace.

Transcript

[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. A candlelight vigil for a gorgeous young coffee shop owner. I'm Nancy Grace. This is Crime Stories. I want to thank you for being with us.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Beloved Oakland coffee shop owner vanishes without warning, leaving her daughters desperate for their mother's safe return.

[Nancy Grace]

Where is Amy? Very high profile in her neighborhood. Everybody loves her coffee shop. Extremely popular. Never a bad word about Amy Hilliard. But tonight, the community banding together to have a vigil. She's disappeared. Days ago. Last seen, to my understanding, in a public park. Where is she? Nobody. Nobody just vanishes off the face of the earth. It's not like we're in Harry Potter and you can apparate somewhere else. That doesn't happen. Somebody knows. Where is Amy? Joining us in all star panel. But first, I want to go straight out to Brian Fitzgibbons, Director Operations, USPA Nationwide Security. He leads a team of investigators that go around the world searching for missing people and performing extractions of missing people. Former Marine, Iraqi war vet. I hate it. Hate, hate, hate when someone says they just disappeared like it's a vanishing act. That's not what happened. And don't even start with the typical down the road of she's a woman. She's probably with her boyfriend. Do not even let the words boyfriend or new boyfriend or alone time or me time or girls trip come out of your mouth, Fitzgibbons.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

I won't. And what I'll say that you know this case is Particularly alarming because of the time of day that Amy Hilliard went missing. She was last seen at her home around 2pm and then according to reports was seen on surveillance footage around 4, 4:30 in Diamond park in Oakland. Now what's concerning here is she left behind her phone at her house. So this is not, this is very atypical behavior for a missing person's case.

[Nancy Grace]

Very creepy and very scary and it's, you know, like I think it happens in every neighborhood but it's also like

[Friend of Amy Hilliard]

frightening to think that someone just disappeared from here.

[Nancy Grace]

And I really like hope that she's okay. I hope her family is okay.

[Community Member]

Her husband Chris shared that one of the things that defines Amy, one of her favorite words is the word hope. And so tonight we're expressing our hope that we find her. Please review your video cameras for evidence of her walking past your home. She loved hiking, she loved walking. It's very possible that she could be on that video. She'd be the one jumping in, volunteering, leading volunteers, talking to other people in the community, spreading the word, using her talent to help like bring community closer together. It seems crazy that she's not here tonight.

[Nancy Grace]

With us, from our friends at KGO and kron, Dave Mack with us, Crime stories investigative reporter. Have you seen Diamond Park? It's gorgeous. It's not like some field of weeds off by the industrial park. This is a very well manicured, well lit park. It's, it's popular. A lot of people go there. It's really hard for me to believe she's last seen there at 4:30 in the afternoon daylight hours.

[Dave Mack]

Right.

[Nancy Grace]

Not 4:30am, 4:30pm Right, that's correct.

[Dave Mack]

Nancy, what's fascinating, have you seen the

[Nancy Grace]

pictures of this park?

[Dave Mack]

Yes, it's incredible. It's a familiar place to everyone in the area. But Nancy, here's the part that really comes into play. We know that Amy was at her home neighborhood around 2pm she was seen by neighbors outside with her dog. Then we have 4:30pm where she is seen on surveillance video in Diamond Park. There's a two and a half hour window where we don't know where she was or what she was doing, but it would take, it's a couple of miles from her home to Diamond park. Okay. It's like three to four miles. It's not a straight shot. Driving time, 10 to 15 minutes, walking time, much longer. It could take an hour to hour and a half and not something that would normally be walked. So we've got an issue here of time and trying to build that timeline. But 4:30pm Diamond park she has seen on surveillance video confirmed Day Mac.

[Nancy Grace]

You're saying diamond park, right? Not like the the Jew, but D I M O N D. Correct?

[Dave Mack]

That is correct.

[Nancy Grace]

Have you seen it? It's gorgeous. And one thing that really jumps out at me is I'm looking at a lot of photos of the park and there are a lot of kid spots for children to play, like playground equipment. There's redwoods, there are walking trails. It's very densely forested, which is a whole nother can of worms for Brian Fitzgibbons to figure out. There's a creek bed. I don't know if there's water involved, but if there is, I doubt pretty seriously it's white water. They're manicured grounds with walkways. What I'm saying is it looks like an upscale park, a walking park as I mentioned.

[Dave Mack]

You know, there are surveillance cameras so it makes an individual feel safe when they go there. That's how we have the video. We don't have it, but they have confirmed the sighting by video of Amy in the park at 4:30. So gives you an idea of what kind of park we're really talking about.

[Nancy Grace]

Brian Fitzgibbons, I understand your concern. This is in broad daylight and if you look at this photo, very well manicured. And the reason I keep saying that is because it leads me to believe that there are surveillance cameras there now on a remote trail like where Rachel Morin, remember she was on Mom Paw Trail and it's not extremely remote, she could drive to it, had a good trailhead with a parking area, but it was more remote than this. If you'll recall, Rachel Moran, a young mom of five, goes missing on a Ma and PA trail. And it's a very active trail. Very active. And the reason I say this is I felt at the time that someone should have seen the perp and have seen her go on the trail. Now she hadn't been killed for long before other hikers come along and find her body. What I'm saying about this case, which is eerily similar, it seems like there are a lot of people there, Fitz. And if you look at the well manicured nature of diamond park, there's got to be surveillance, there has to be rangers. I mean, look at that. It's not like a remote national park hiking trail where there's nobody. I mean if you think about Ariel Koenig out at very remote and treacherous, treacherous hiking trail where her husband trying to push her over the edge of a cliff, it was a miracle. Two hikers came along and saw what was happening before Ariel had her head totally bashed in by her husband. That said not the same thing here. That's my point. Why didn't anybody see what happened?

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Yeah, so there, there are really two components to diamond park and the one that you just accurately described. You know, we have to believe that there's surveillance footage. It's a densely populated area all around the park. However, extending about a mile to the north towards Shepherd Canyon, there are, there are trailheads that continue into a much more secluded, densely wooded part of the same park that might be referred to as diamond park as well. So the question is, was Amy Hillyard walking in that recreation area side of the park, or was she on these more remote trailheads extending to the north towards Shepherd Canyon, which would cause a much more difficult search.

[Nancy Grace]

Dave Mack, Crime Stories Investigative reporter. Of course, she was spotted on surveillance video, but I don't know if that video is her guy going at the entrance, going in, or somewhere within the park. Do we know what, what we can see in the background of that surveillance video? Have they released it?

[Dave Mack]

Not yet. The video has not been released and we haven't been given a lot of information about where she was in the park, what she was doing in the park. We don't know if she was, you know, out for a walk on a trail or if she was sitting under a tree reading a book. We don't have a clue right now.

[Nancy Grace]

We know that it's characterized by natural hiking paths, trails, redwoods, sometimes very dense. Back to you. Brian Fitzgibbons, USPA Nationwide Security. Tell me again about the other area of the park, not the nicely manicured area, but when it get where it goes off into more remote hiking trails.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

From that nicely manicured area that we could refer to as the recreation area of the park, you have access to a number of trailheads that extend to the north. They under, they cross over underneath highways and extend north to Shepard Canyon. Now, that part of the park is much more remote, much more secluded. The terrain is more difficult and, you know, much easier to hide somebody in there or get lost in there.

[Nancy Grace]

Since amy disappeared, over 200 volunteers have gone all around the neighborhood near the park asking for camera footage, door cams, anything that they can find. Straight out to a special guest joining us, Dr. Rachel Toles. Dr. Toles, clinical forensic psychologist, author of a brand new book coming out, Inventing the Psychopath. Okay, I'm reading that How a Convenient Myth Makes the World More Dangerous. You can find her at drracheltolls.com T O L E S Dr. Toles, thank you for being with us. Dr. Rachel Toles, why is it when here you've got a beautiful and very successful coffee shop owner, everybody seemingly loves her. When she goes missing, everyone acts like she ran off with a man. Why? Why is that? When a guy goes missing, nobody says, oh, he's a big hoe. But when a woman goes missing, it's altogether different.

[Dr. Rachel Toles]

It is very strange and it is a double standard. You could argue that maybe some people have this idea on their minds because of the recent Michelle Hunley Smith case in North Carolina where she disappeared in 2001 and was found alive and well this year. She left when her daughter was 14. But these types of cases with women kind of just wandering off or leaving with a lover usually have a different behavioral structure. And from what's public here, we haven't heard any of these kind of precipitating crisis things or that there was issues in the marriage. We haven't heard that yet. So. But yes, it's a double standard and it's really unfortunate.

[Nancy Grace]

You mentioned a mom, I believe she was a mom of three who goes missing for about 14 years and she's found basically in the next town over. You know why we know about that case? Because it's aberrant, it's unusual, it's highly unusual for a mom of three to go missing and lose all contact with her children. They think she's dead for over a decade. It rarely happens. That's why it made a headline. And it feeds into women disappear because they want to, they want me time, they want to go on a walkabout, a girls trip. That is so rare. To Joanna Nieves. Joining us, high profile criminal defense attorney, founder of the Nieves law firm. Joanna, thank you for being with us. Why is this, this stereotype? Alive and well, very alive and well. Even amongst law enforcement, when a woman goes missing, we just assume she's slung up at the Motel 6.

[Joanna Nieves]

Yeah, I think it's because people are always looking for a reason to place on something rather than, you know, going to the route of hey, somebody took this person and against their will. You know, she's a mother of two, she's a prominent business owner in the community they're going to lean towards, hey, was there trouble at home? Was she escaping from reality? Was there mounting debt and a sinking business? Rather than, hey, she's on, you know, on a daily routine maybe of walking a dog or walking about a park and somebody abducted her because it's less, you know, it's, it's easier to digest that somebody voluntarily left their phone behind so that they can leave their family and their their business to get away rather than hey, this person was placed at risk when she was minding her own business.

[Bethenny Frankel]

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[Nancy Grace]

Just try it Support for the show

[Public Podcast Sponsor]

comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public

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Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures this

[Radhi Devlukia]

is Radhi Jablukya from A really Good Cry. I absolutely love getting outside, whether it's a quick walk or a mindful few steps between meetings or even a longer run to just clear my head. But the one thing that can really ruin that for me is shoes that just don't feel right. That's why I started wearing Altra running with the Altra Fit. Every step feels comfortable, balanced and strong, like my feet can finally move freely. What really stood out to me was the roomy toe box. My toes actually now have room to spread out, which makes movement feel more natural and comfortable. And when your feet aren't cramped, you feel more balanced, like every step has a strong, stable foundation. I've noticed that with extra space, my foot muscles get to work building strength so I can actually move with more confidence. Altra fits and moves with you no matter your pace or your goals. Beginner or marathon runner, they've really become my go to for any kind of running or training and I always feel like my feet can do exactly what they're meant to do. Feel the difference by visiting altrarunning.com and use my code CRY10 for 10% off. That's Altra A L T R-A running.com Experience Altra and stay out there.

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[Nancy Grace]

Grace the popular owner of a local coffee shop disappears. Beautiful Amy Hilliard missing from Oakland's Diamond Park. Volunteers out searching. The search has continued up until we go to air. She's the co owner of Farley's Coffee, Last seen around 4 4:30 in the afternoon at Diamond Park. Before that she was seen around 2pm leaving her home in Oakland's Cleveland Heights neighborhood. People from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office are part of the search along with volunteers. A statement has been issued. There's no recent video footage other than what we have learned about there was initial incorrect information. We believe she was last seen wearing a white top and jeans and significantly, that she was alone. To Brian Fitzgibbons, why is it important that she was alone when she was last spotted? By the way, that's my friends at ABC7. Go ahead Brian.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Yeah, it's important to note that there was no one else with her on that surveillance footage that she was spotted alone, meaning that she hadn't gone there to meet up with someone. At least as far as we can tell from the video evidence. So there is no additional person of interest that investigators can be looking for at this time. That's why this is so important that this canvas extends to the surrounding residences to find any footage of that could potentially have Amy walking by at that time. So we can see who else may have been following her, may have been with her earlier, prior to this captured footage in the park.

[Nancy Grace]

Got a question for you. Outside the park, wouldn't that be an issue? For instance, what businesses are there, if any. Can we get video surveillance from there? I would be curious about what interstates are near there, because if somebody has her right now, tonight, and they're on the interstate, they're going 60 miles an hour. Okay, let's just go with that. Every hour she's 60 miles further away.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Yeah, there's a couple major roads. To the north is Route 13 and to the south, 580, which is not far from Diamond Park. So, you know, you're spot on to say that the egress from that area is quite simple and would be fast. So we have to immediately extend this canvas to that to the surrounding cameras, be they residential or commercial. Around, in and around diamond park around the time she went, was last seen.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, Dave Mack, tell me about the area outside the park. Of course, the park area and those hiking trails that are densely forested are going to be the first place police look. But outside that just let's say she was taken outside the park. Let's pretend a vehicle that is an alternative. Police have to explore what's around the park.

[Dave Mack]

You've got, Nancy, there's a lot of access by major, by roads running in and around the area. We are dealing with neighborhoods, you know, family homes. But as you see see on the map there, there is one road that runs along this path that canvases and connects most of these areas. As you look, you'll notice that the park that we started with at Lake Merritt and going to Dynasty, there is a that one main road. But look aside all around its residential area, you've got those huge trees running. As you look there, you've got redwoods all over this area and easy access out of the park, on the road. And you're into town. You're heading into Oakland and San Francisco. You're in the Bay Area in a matter of minutes. Nancy, it's not a far off journey from the park into areas of a lot high population.

[Nancy Grace]

You know, I'm very curious. When you say it's not far from Oakland, which has a skyrocketing crime rate, how far from Oakland is it?

[Dave Mack]

We're talking 8 to 10 miles. The search has extended into Oakland neighborhoods and major Parks beyond Diamond Park. Nancy, that's something that has just been added to this. Remember, we lost three or four of the first, the search time where the search was focused on Amy Hilliard's neighborhood and Lake Merritt, which was a couple of minutes walk away from her home. Three or four days spent in that area. It was only after they expanded the search and found the video at diamond park that the search expanded beyond that. So the we lost several days of looking for Amy early on.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, back to you, Brian Fitzgibbons. That is brutal. Did you hear what Dave Mack from Crime Stories just said? Days were lost. Days were lost searching the wrong area.

[Dave Mack]

Yeah.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

And that a no missing person's case is perfect. So information comes to light, you know, sometimes hours, sometimes many days after the initial report that a person's gone missing. And in this case, it sounds like that surveillance video came in later after the fact, and investigators had to refocus their efforts. Now, what I will say is from an immediate sense, investigators would be, you know, doing the victimology on Amy. What were her normal patterns? Was this out of the ordinary for her to walk in Diamond Park? Was it ordinary for her to leave her cell phone behind when hiking and going for a walk? Those are things that would have happened regardless of where those searches were taking place. But no doubt crucial time was lost.

[Nancy Grace]

This is Amy Hilliard and she is co owner of Arlis, which has been greatly expanded.

[Zenny Abraham]

Tell my viewers about this real quick.

[Zenny Abraham (continued)]

We took over Subway, which is always good for a local independent business to take over chain, and they moved out in the end of September. And we thought this is the opportunity we've been looking for for years and years. So we expanded into the new space. We have a proper kitchen, we're doing more food and we have more space for community, which is what we're really excited about.

[Nancy Grace]

From zinni62. YouTube.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oakland mom Amy Hilliard disappears after leaving home without her cell phone. She was last seen near Lake Merritt. Her family and authorities urgently seeking information.

[Nancy Grace]

The search goes on tonight for a missing coffee shop owner, Amy Hilliard, the mom of beautiful daughters now begging for their mom's return. Where is Amy joining us and all star panel. You know, it's very disturbing. Joanne Dieves, high profile criminal defense attorney joining us out of this jurisdiction. I don't know if you're familiar with diamond park or how it's just minutes away from Oakland, not far at all, which has one of the highest crime rates in the country. Oakland, California, horrific crime rates. Do we think that this park is In a vacuum, it's literally a few minutes away from downtown Oakland. So crime doesn't know jurisdictional boundaries. Crime can go from inner city out to the suburbs where everybody thinks they're safe, to this park. Just like with Rachel Morin, minding her own business, a mom of five, she's dead off of a hiking trail. So what can you tell me? Joanna Nieves, you practice law all over the state of California, you're based in Oakland. What can you tell me about the area?

[Joanna Nieves]

Yeah, I think one thing to consider is it's one of those places where you're going to find more seclusion and sometimes the opportunity is more ripe when there's less hustle and bustle, less people around and moving. You know, when we're talking about a property crime and there's a lot going on easy in and out in downtown Oakland. Right. That's a go to crime. You can't get away from it. But when you're, if we're thinking about somebody who may potentially have been abducted or harmed in some way, sometimes when you get them in a more remote, remote area, like we're talking about a part that, yes, it's accessible to the community, but there is these portions of it where you have that privacy and seclusion that may be more opportune for somebody that is looking to cause harm.

[Nancy Grace]

Diamond park in Oakland is located near Fruitville and also the Laurel District. It's part of a city with a horrible crime rate. You've got a 1 in 11 chance of becoming a crime victim in Oakland. Now, the Diamond District is situated in east central Oakland and that's considered more moderate in safety compared to other high risk corridors in west and deep East Oakland, but still still very high crime rate. And you know, to Dr. Rachel Toles joining us, I believe when people, for instance, go on vacation, they're on a cruise ship, they're in one of those all inclusive resorts, they think they're safe because you choose to believe you're in this safety bubble, everything's going to be okay. Much the same thing when people go to these beautiful but heavily wooded forests, parks, they see the children's playground and that automatically signals safe. They see lighting, they see surveillance cams, and that signals safe safety, I'm safe. And they let their guard down. And really, Dr. Dr. Rachel, why not? You cannot live in a constant state of fear and agitation. But this feeling, this false sense of security is misplaced.

[Dr. Rachel Toles]

I completely agree. And I think that that is exactly what happens in cases like these. We often see people thinking Well, I just want to walk in nature. So maybe I will leave my cell phone at home because I want to unpl. I'll just go into the kind of a denser area. But of course that's not wise because it puts you at risk. And then of course we hear that she has this undisclosed medical condition. So if she's then vulnerable for that reason or any other reason, that's of course increasing the risk.

[Nancy Grace]

You know, that's curious. Dave Mack we hear she has some sort of a medical condition and it's making the family even more concerned. Is it diabetes? Is. Have you heard? Do you know what the condition is?

[Dave Mack]

No. We have only been told that she has a medical condition, but there has been no definition of what that is. There's no descriptions of what it could possibly be. Just that it is a condition that requires attention. That's it. And that's why they elevated the surge.

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[Nancy Grace]

Grace could you explain to me, Dr. Rachel Toll, why people suspend concerns for self for self safety when they go on hikes, when they're jogging, or when they're in for instance, a bucolic park like this. Everybody does it, I do it and I certainly know better.

[Dr. Rachel Toles]

I think you actually nailed it when you said that people can't live in a constant state of fear and looking over their shoulder. And of course us women, we are doing that to all the time. From the time that we basically come out of the womb, we're constantly scanning our environments and that hyper vigilance is not healthy. I mean we know that stress is the number one killer. We just shouldn't be in that state. And the idea of being able to go in nature and take a breath and believe the fantasy that we're all just safe once we enter the woods. I mean, it's a nice theory, but it does put us at risk, and especially if we've decided to not take our cell phones.

[Nancy Grace]

Yeah, I'm just wondering if she had her cell phone. Dave Mack, do we know.

[Dave Mack]

Yeah, we know that she did not have her cell phone. Nancy.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, I get it. I get it. Dr. Rachel Toles. We're told all the time to unplug. I was just complaining last night that I'm constantly being text and called. I mean, 24 7. And it never fails. And when I see it pop up, I think, oh, my stars. Is that about a crime victim? Is that about a case that we're investigating? I have to pick it up. But it's constant. So we're told all the time, unplug, unwind, or you'll have a stroke. But going into a park, I would think that you would have your phone with you. I don't know if it was one of her regular practices to go without a phone, but I'm very disheartened because that's really cutting the odds of finding her quickly by more than half. Yeah.

[Dr. Rachel Toles]

And I think that the fact that from what I understand, the park is quite close to her home. I have a feeling. Of course, we don't know yet, but it was maybe a routine, and you get into a routine with your daily practice, and maybe you do you just think, oh, I've done this a million times. I'm just gonna leave the phone. I'm gonna go. And you just kind of get into that, and then all of a sud. Sudden you're in a real bad situation. So I really highly recommend that people take their phones and if they, you know, just. Just put them in your pocket or in your purse or whatever, but just have it with you, because otherwise you can go missing and it'll be very hard to find you.

[Nancy Grace]

Brian Fitzgibbons. There is a hiking trail through Diamond Canyon within Diamond park that opens up up a whole nother can of worms for searchers. Explain. It's rugged terrain.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Yeah, this is very densely forested, rugged terrain, you know, which adds some complexity to this because in that type of terrain, the likelihood of someone hearing or seeing something, you know, another hiker on the trail reduces greatly. Right. Because of the dense vegetation, because of the canyons, the terrain features. And then naturally, a lot of hikers and runners are wearing headphones in 2026. You know, they're listening to A podcast, listening to music as they run. So the further away from that recreation area that Amy walked, if she potentially did head to the north, the more difficult this search will be.

[Nancy Grace]

What can you tell me about the recreation area, Dave Mack? Because that involves parking, that involves people driving in and out. If she was taken out in a vehicle, nobody would think a thing of it. What's at the recreation facility?

[Dave Mack]

Well you know you mentioned the area for children to play. That's what they're talking about with recreational. There you go, pictures like that of you see in a park that, that actually to be honest with you Nancy, when you see things like this for children to play on and basketball goals and tennis courts and swimming pool, all you think are family related activities and a very safe place. It's also mean you see the woods, well, creates a lot of hiding spots. Now you mentioned parking. This is right off MacArthur Boulevard, which is a major thoroughfare heading straight into downtown Oakland. And it you can get on MacArthur and be gone in a matter of minutes, Nancy. So yes, this is a park that has a lot of things for children, families to do, activities, sports and things like that. And it is easy access from MacArthur Boulevard, which gives you a lot of things to consider when looking for someone like Amy Hilliard.

[Community Member]

Maybe someone will see her or has seen her or has a ring camera video that has recorded her in the last couple days and doesn't know it. But if they just take a look at that recording, they might see that she was on that camera walking on Wednesday March 25th when she went missing and they might be able to give us the lead that will help us find her.

[Nancy Grace]

From kpix.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Amy Hilliard classified as an at risk missing person. As customers and employees say her sudden disappearance is completely out of character and

[Nancy Grace]

deeply concerning evidence of routine. Routine evidence. And I don't mean standard stereotypical run of the mill evidence routine. I mean evidence of her routine. She has never not shown up to work. Highly uncharacteristic. She co owned a very popular coffee shop in Oakland, Farley's. They're at a loss. She's never done this before. What does that mean to you, Dr. Rachel?

[Dr. Rachel Toles]

I mean. Well, I'm sure you probably know this but the coffee shop itself was named after I believe Chris, the husband's great grandfather who went missing. That's a fact that is just also eerie.

[Nancy Grace]

I know that, I know that. I didn't bring it up because I don't find it relevant to her search. But it is an odd coincidence. In fact, Dave and I Were talking about that right before we went to air tonight. So, Dave, go ahead and explain that. Do I think it's relevant here? No, I do not. But it is odd.

[Dave Mack]

This is one of those stories that's handed down by the family. Nancy. Again, not a lot of documentation back in 1920 as to what took place, but the story of the grandfather going missing just vanishing into thin air and nobody hearing from him again sparked enough interest in this family. Passing the story down to the point where this entire company, Farley's Coffee, is named after a man who went missing.

[Friend of Amy Hilliard]

She's the linchpin in a lot of our relationships. She's the linchpin at her coffee shop. She has fed hundreds, if not thousands of people through her coffee shop.

[Nancy Grace]

So this is shocking. I. I don't know what's happening. We want her home. She loves her family, especially her two girls. She loves her business, her employees. She is very passionate in everything she does. From our friends at KTVU and kgo. Okay, Fitzgibbons, what are authorities doing right now? For one thing, I'm sure they're speaking to everybody in the family, including the husband. Let me just say up front, Fitzgibbons do not show up on his front porch with a torch and a pitchfork. No, there is no reason to suspect him. However, that's where police will start. But also, we know she left her home alone. So I'm sure the first thing they did was make sure his phone wasn't also at diamond park and get his alibi SOP that does not make him a person of interest or a suspect.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Correct. And you know, it's natural for investigators to begin with family and close friends, business partners, for the simple fact that Amy spent the majority of her time and had the majority of her communications with them so they can learn the most about Amy and her routines, any problems she was facing. Were there financial issues with the business? Was there some kind of. Of threat, perceived or real, that she was under at the time? And it's important to note that investigators are on the same side of the table as the family in these opening weeks. Everybody's all in to find Amy here. And identifying these routines and patterns, getting deep on that cell phone and the communications that's happening now and then as the days go on, they're going to expand that canvas into the neighborhood. Knocking on doors, old school investigative work to get information and potentially video.

[Nancy Grace]

Speaking of habit and routine, I'm wondering, was it her routine to go to diamond park to go for walks? I'm wondering because when you step out of Farley's, from what I can see, you're right on a busy street with a lot of red lights, so you don't get very much exercise in. I'm wondering if that was part of her routine, which changes things because it seems that people are questioning, why did she go to the park? Why was she there alone? Why did she not have her phone? As if somehow it's her fault. For all I know, this may be her regular workout schedule. Do we know anything at all, Dave Mack, about her regular workout routine?

[Dave Mack]

We do, Nancy. Lake Merritt is very close to Nancy's home. We're talking half mile. And that was the location where Nancy would regularly walk, oftentimes with her dog. So Lake Merritt was where the search was focused, as it is right there in the neighborhood. Now, when it comes to diamond park, not so much. She didn't. It was a little bit further away from the house, about four miles. Not an easy walk to get to, and so not convenient. Not something she regularly did. She did regularly walk in Merritt, in Lake Merritt, not at Diamond Park.

[Nancy Grace]

The whole thing is heartbreaking and shocking. I didn't get very much sleep last night. Barley's is really a very important part of our community. They've really networked into the community in a wonderful way that she's returned healthy and safe and sound.

[Friend of Amy Hilliard]

We've been friends for at least the last 25 years. She's important in my life. She's an aunt to my children. Her husband and my husband are best friends. They went to college together. She's one of the most important people we have in our lives. When you have a problem, she's generally the first person that you reach out to, which is why tonight it's so important for us to all come together and help her and help her family in a similar way that they've always

[Nancy Grace]

helped us from KTVU and kpix. You know, Joanna Nieves, a lot of people do not have dozens of searchers of volunteers out looking for them. Every one of these close friends need to speak to police and undergo forensic interviews. Why?

[Joanna Nieves]

Because who she was speaking to, the nature of the relationship she had. The background about her dynamics in the community is so critical to giving the law enforcement clues about what may or may not may have occurred in this situation. You know, she left the cell phone at home. But who. Who was the last person she talked to? She was gone for two and a half hours on a Wednesday, in the middle of the day when most people might be picking their kids up from school. So who did she have in her life that would help with those type of things? Did she often take time away from the coffee shop to go on, go on these long excursions and all of the her community members who really know her are going to help paint that picture so that the police don't get tunnel vision just going down one avenue. But they're able to take that, aggregate it and make a, make a conscious decision about where to target that investigation.

[Zenny Abraham (continued)]

We have a great window seat where we have a knitting group on Tuesdays and we're really looking forward for all of the community. Enjoy it more hours of the day and on weekend long.

[Zenny Abraham]

It's not an expression, it's just that

[Nancy Grace]

I'm eating one of their great sandwiches.

[Zenny Abraham]

So see how, how lookbooks.

[Nancy Grace]

So 33 Grand Avenue.

[Zenny Abraham (continued)]

33 and 29 now and 29. Yeah.

[Dave Mack]

Grand Avenue in Oakland.

[Zenny Abraham]

Come and visit.

[Zenny Abraham (continued)]

Yeah, you're welcome.

[Nancy Grace]

Thank you.

[Zenny Abraham (continued)]

Take care.

[Nancy Grace]

That's from Zenny62, a vlogger. Zenny Abraham. Wait a minute. You know, everything about victimology is not fitting in. Brian Fitzgibbons. She hosts a knitting group on Tuesdays at her coffee shop. This is not high risk activity. This is not like she's looking for thrills in downtown Oakland after midnight. She's not a drug user, she's not an addict, she doesn't have a drinking problem. She's not prone to high risk activity. This is very, very aberrant, very odd. Fitzgibbons.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Yeah, and this is also somebody, as you said, you know, runs a knitting circle on Tuesday nights, owns a business with employees, is deeply connected to the community, participates in a number of community based nonprofits. This is not someone who typically would leave on their own volition. Which makes this all the more concerning. Her disappearance in broad daylight, you know, now on a week, a week has gone by. This is a very, very concerning victimology.

[Nancy Grace]

If you know or think you know anything about Amy Hilliard's startling disappearance, Please dial Oakland PD. 510-238-3641. Repeat, 510-238-3641. We remember an American hero, Trooper Chad Walker, Texas Department Public Safety, shot dead in the line of duty, leaving behind a wife turned widow and four children. Sentenced to life without dad. American hero, Trooper Chad Walker, Nancy Grace signing off. Goodbye friend.

[Bethenny Frankel]

This is Bethenny Frankel from Just Be with Bethenny Frankel. Most dog food is marketing, not nutrition. That is why Biggie and Smalls eat just food for dogs. Real 100% human grade food with ingredients I actually recognize. And yes, I do see the difference. Better digestion, healthier skin, more energy. Dogs that feel better. My babies if you've been on the fence about switching, stop overthinking it. What's more important than your furry babies and their health? Go to justfoodfordogs.com right now and get 50% off your first box. No code needed. Just try it.

[Radhi Devlukia]

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[Nancy Grace]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.