Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing
Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing
The parents of L/Cpl Ryan Rudd, a 28-year-old soldier who went missing, expressed anger over the Army’s failure to identify his absence for two weeks. They claimed this delay “potentially” led to the loss of their son’s life. Ryan was last spotted on 15 February at the New Inn in Selby during a night out and did not return to his barracks at Catterick Garrison. Ken and Kerstin Rudd, from Pocklington, learned of his disappearance only when a senior officer called them on 1 March to ask if he was at home.
“The fact that nobody had noticed he was missing for two weeks was shocking. We couldn’t believe it was happening,” Kerstin Rudd said.
The Army confirmed an investigation is ongoing, collaborating with North Yorkshire Police. Ken Rudd explained he had informed the officer about their assumption that Ryan was back on base. “Shortly after, we called again to confirm he wasn’t on camp and were contacting the police,” he added. The parents highlighted the Army’s systems, including nominal and electronic roll calls, which are supposed to track soldiers’ locations. They criticized the lack of cross-checking over two consecutive Mondays, leaving the police “two weeks behind” in their search.
“It was awful. For missing those two weeks and not knowing where he was, this has potentially cost my son his life,” Ken said.
Kerstin Rudd noted that Ryan had been with a friend from another unit, and they split while he finished a drink. The couple believed Ryan had intended to meet them in a different pub but was denied entry. “His friend was on a course for two weeks, so we thought he might have gone off to Selby,” she explained. “We don’t know if he reached out to anyone to say he hadn’t seen Ryan.”
“We think something happened that night. We don’t know if it was an accident or something more sinister, because there’s nothing to show what occurred,” Kerstin stated.
North Yorkshire Police expressed openness about the circumstances, though they acknowledged the possibility Ryan entered the River Ouse. In a statement, the Army noted: “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 the police to uncover details.”
The couple emphasized Ryan’s character, stating he would not have vanished voluntarily. “It’s out of character for him. He’s a soldier, always comes home,” Ken said. They hoped sharing the incident might help others in Selby recall events. “The slightest detail could assist the police in figuring out what happened,” Kerstin added.
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