Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing

Parents’ fury over delay in reporting son missing

Missing Soldier’s Parents Condemn Army’s Response

The parents of a soldier who has gone missing expressed outrage over the Army’s failure to notice their son’s absence for two weeks, claiming this delay may have endangered his life. L/Cpl Ryan Rudd, 28, was last seen at the New Inn in Selby during a night out on 15 February and did not return to his barracks at Catterick Garrison. However, Ken and Kerstin Rudd from Pocklington said their awareness of the situation came only after a senior officer contacted them on 1 March, asking if their son was home.

The couple stated the two-week gap in reporting had made it difficult to locate Ryan. “It was awful,” said Kerstin Rudd, emphasizing the shock of not realizing he had vanished. “Nobody had noticed he was missing for two weeks. It was shocking, we couldn’t believe it was happening.” Ken Rudd, an ex-Army veteran, explained that the base’s roll call system, which includes both a nominal and electronic check, should have tracked his son’s whereabouts. “They are meant to cross-reference whether soldiers are on a course or off base, but he didn’t get cross-checked two Mondays in a row,” he added.

“For missing those two weeks and not knowing where he was, this has potentially cost my son his life,” Ken said.

The family believed Ryan had been with a friend from another unit and had split up during the outing. They had planned to meet again at a different pub but said their son was denied entry. “We assume he went off to his course in Selby,” Kerstin explained, “but we don’t know if he reached out to anyone to confirm he was still out.”

Army Acknowledges Investigation into Soldier’s Disappearance

In a statement, the Army confirmed that L/Cpl 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,” they said. The police have remained open-minded about the circumstances of his disappearance, though they noted the possibility that Ryan may have entered the River Ouse.

“The delay meant any evidence from that night could have been washed away by rain or other factors,” Kerstin Rudd said.

Ken Rudd stressed that his son would not have left on his own, calling it “out of character” for him. “He’s a soldier, always comes home, and had no reason to vanish,” he said. The couple hopes sharing their account might prompt memories from others in Selby, potentially aiding the police in uncovering what happened. “Even the smallest detail could help,” Kerstin added, “if someone recalls Ryan being around at that time.”

North Yorkshire Police reiterated their commitment to the case, stating they are still exploring all possibilities. Meanwhile, the Army continues its efforts to determine how the two-week gap occurred in tracking Ryan Rudd’s whereabouts.

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