Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing
Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing
Army’s two-week delay sparks concern
The parents of L/Cpl Ryan Rudd, 28, have voiced their anger after the Army failed to notice he had not returned to his barracks at Catterick Garrison for two weeks. The soldier was last seen at the New Inn in Selby on 15 February, but it wasn’t until 1 March that his absence was flagged by a senior officer. This two-week gap, the couple claims, may have jeopardized efforts to locate their son.
Ken and Kerstin Rudd, from Pocklington, said they were unaware of their son’s disappearance until the phone call. They expressed frustration over the delay, stating it left the police “two weeks behind” in their search. “It was awful,” said Kerstin. “Nobody had noticed he was missing for two weeks. It was shocking, we couldn’t believe it was happening.”
“For missing those two weeks and not knowing where he was, this has potentially cost my son his life,” Ken Rudd added, emphasizing his fury. He noted that while the Army conducts roll calls, the system did not cross-check Ryan’s whereabouts for two consecutive Mondays.
Parents’ understanding of the situation
The couple explained that Ryan had been with a friend from a different unit. They believed the friend was on a course for two weeks, so Ryan likely left Selby to join them. However, they were unsure if their son had reached out to anyone after separating from his companion. “We don’t know if he contacted anyone to say he hadn’t had any contact with Ryan,” Kerstin said.
They also mentioned that Ryan had planned to meet them at another pub, but he was reportedly refused entry. This detail, combined with the two-week delay, has led them to suspect something occurred that night. “He was enjoying it in the Army,” Kerstin said, adding, “there’s nothing to show what happened.”
Police and Army statements
North Yorkshire Police acknowledged they remained “open minded” about Ryan’s disappearance but noted the possibility he entered the River Ouse. The Army confirmed in a statement that Rudd was reported missing on 1 March 2026 and that an investigation was ongoing, with police leading the effort.
“We can confirm that Lance Corporal Ryan Rudd was reported missing to North Yorkshire Police on 1 March 2026,” the statement read. “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.”
The couple hopes sharing their son’s story might help jog someone’s memory. “If there’s anyone in Selby who was around at the time and hadn’t heard that Ryan was missing, the slightest little thing might help the police find out what happened,” Kerstin said. They insist their son would not have vanished voluntarily, 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,” Ken remarked.
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