Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing
Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing
The parents of a missing soldier have criticized the Army for not recognizing their son’s absence for two weeks, claiming this delay may have endangered his life. L/Cpl Ryan Rudd, 28, was last spotted on 15 February during a night out at the New Inn in Selby and did not return to his barracks at Catterick Garrison. It was not until 1 March that the couple received a call from a senior officer, who asked if Ryan was at home. They said the two-week gap left investigators with limited time to locate their son.
Army investigation underway
The Army confirmed an investigation is ongoing and that it is collaborating with North Yorkshire Police. Ken Rudd, the father, recounted that he informed the officer of their assumption Ryan was back on base. Shortly after, the couple called again to clarify he was missing and sought police assistance. “It was awful,” said Kerstin Rudd. “No one noticed he was missing for two weeks. It was shocking, we couldn’t believe it was happening.”
“The fact that nobody had noticed he was missing for two weeks. It was shocking, we couldn’t believe it was happening.” – Kerstin Rudd
Ken Rudd, an ex-Army officer, explained that soldiers are typically checked via a nominal roll call and electronic system to track their locations. “They are meant to cross-reference to see if they are on a course, not on a course, or where they are,” he added. “They should know where each soldier is, but he didn’t get cross-checked two Mondays in a row. That put the police in an unfortunate situation of being two weeks behind in looking for my son.”
Suspicions about Ryan’s disappearance
The couple explained Ryan had been with a friend from a different unit. They said they split up while Ryan finished a drink, then planned to meet again in another pub. However, their son was denied entry, leaving them uncertain about his whereabouts. “We think something happened that night and don’t know if it was an accident or something more sinister, because there’s nothing to show what happened,” Kerstin Rudd said.
“He was enjoying it in the Army.” – Kerstin Rudd
Ken Rudd emphasized Ryan’s habit of returning home, calling it “out of character” for him. “He’s a soldier, it’s in his nature to go out with mates, go everywhere, city breaks on his own, but he always comes home.” The parents hope sharing their story might help jog someone’s memory. “If there’s anyone in Selby who was around at the time and hadn’t heard Ryan was missing, the slightest detail might help the police uncover what happened,” Kerstin said.
Police remain open-minded
North Yorkshire Police previously stated officers are “open-minded” about the circumstances of Ryan’s disappearance. They also noted the possibility that he entered the River Ouse, though no evidence has been found to confirm this. The Army’s statement added: “We can confirm that Lance Corporal Ryan Rudd was reported missing to North Yorkshire Police on 1 March 2026. An investigation is under way, and we are working with North Yorkshire Police who are leading this. We are unable to offer further detail at this time.”
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