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 noticing their son’s absence for two weeks, which they claim could have cost him his life. L/Cpl Ryan Rudd, 28, was last seen at the New Inn in Selby on 15 February, where he was out with friends. He did not return to his barracks at Catterick Garrison, but his family only learned of the situation on 1 March when a senior officer called to ask if he was at home.
“Two weeks passed before anyone raised the alarm, and that gap hindered any chance of finding our son,” said Ken Rudd, who lives in Pocklington. He explained that the officer had assumed Ryan was back on base as usual, adding that they later confirmed he had not returned and contacted the police.
Ken Rudd, an ex-Army man, noted that the base had manual and electronic headcounts to track soldiers’ whereabouts. He pointed out that Ryan’s absence was not cross-checked for two consecutive Mondays, leaving police two weeks behind in the search. Kerstin Rudd echoed his frustration, calling the delay “shocking.”
“The fact that nobody noticed he was missing for two weeks? It was awful,” Kerstin Rudd said. “We couldn’t believe it was happening.” She added that the delay meant any evidence from that night might have been “washed away with the rain or whatever.”
The couple shared their understanding of Ryan’s final hours. They believed he had been with a friend from another unit and split up while finishing a drink. A plan to meet again in a different pub was in place, but Ryan was reportedly denied entry. “We don’t know if he contacted anyone to say he hadn’t seen Ryan,” Kerstin said.
Ken Rudd emphasized that Ryan would not have disappeared on his own. “It’s out of character for him,” he said. “He’s a soldier, always comes home, even when he’s out on his own.” The family remains uncertain whether the disappearance was accidental or deliberate, with no clear clues to explain what occurred.
North Yorkshire Police have stated they remain “open-minded” about the case but noted the possibility that Ryan may have entered the River Ouse. In a statement, the Army confirmed that L/Cpl Ryan Rudd was reported missing on 1 March 2026 and that an investigation is ongoing, with police leading the effort. No further details were provided at this time.
The couple hopes sharing their story might trigger memories from Selby. “If anyone there was around at the time and hadn’t heard Ryan was missing, even the smallest detail could help,” Kerstin Rudd said.