Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing

Parents’ Anger Over Army’s Delay in Reporting Son Missing

The parents of a soldier who went missing have criticized the military for failing to report his absence for two weeks, claiming this may have jeopardized his survival. L/Cpl Ryan Rudd, 28, 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. It wasn’t until 1 March that Ken and Kerstin Rudd, from Pocklington, were informed by a senior officer about their son’s disappearance.

“We were unaware until we got a call asking if he was home,” said Kerstin Rudd. “The two-week gap made it harder to locate him.”

The couple explained they had assumed Ryan was back on base, as his friend from another unit was on a course for two weeks. They believed he might have left Selby to attend the course. “We don’t know if he reached out to anyone to confirm he hadn’t seen Ryan,” Ken added. The delay, they argued, could have erased critical clues about what occurred that night.

Army’s Response and Procedures

The military stated an investigation is ongoing and that they are collaborating with North Yorkshire Police. Ken Rudd, an ex-Army member, noted that roll calls—both nominal and electronic—are meant to track soldiers’ locations. “They should know where everyone is,” he said, “but he wasn’t cross-checked for two Mondays in a row.”

“Ryan didn’t have reason to vanish,” Kerstin remarked. “He was happy in the Army. Something happened that night, and we don’t know if it was an accident or something worse.”

The parents emphasized their belief that Ryan would not have left on his own. “He always comes home,” Ken said. “This isn’t like him.” They hope sharing their story might help jog memories of people in Selby who were around at the time. “Even the smallest detail could aid the police,” Kerstin added.

Police and Army Statements

North Yorkshire Police previously mentioned they remain “open-minded” about Ryan’s disappearance, though they acknowledged the possibility he entered the River Ouse. The Army confirmed in a statement: “Lance Corporal Ryan Rudd was reported missing to North Yorkshire Police on 1 March 2026. An investigation is underway, and we are working with the police to determine what happened.”

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