Parents Decry Army's Two-Week Delay in Reporting Son Missing
Army Criticised Over Missing Soldier Protocol
The parents of Lance Corporal Ryan Rudd, 28, have voiced their outrage and profound concern following a two-week delay by the British Army in reporting their son missing. L/Cpl Rudd was last seen on 15 February in Selby, but his absence from Catterick Garrison was only communicated to his parents on 1 March, a delay they contend has “potentially” cost him his life.
Ken and Kerstin Rudd, from Pocklington, were informed by a senior officer who enquired if their son was at home, a call that shocked them as they had assumed he was back at barracks. “The fact that nobody had noticed he was missing for two weeks. It was shocking, we couldn't believe it was happening,” Mrs Rudd stated.
Mr Rudd, a former serviceman, highlighted the Army's apparent failure to conduct proper cross-referencing of nominal and electronic roll calls. He emphasised that soldiers' whereabouts should always be known. “They should know where each soldier is and he didn't get cross-checked two Mondays in a row. [That] put the police in an unfortunate situation of being two weeks behind in looking for my son,” he said.
The couple believe this critical delay has compromised any potential evidence, which may have been lost due to the passage of time. They firmly believe L/Cpl Rudd would not have disappeared voluntarily, describing it as entirely out of character. “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,” Mr Rudd explained.
North Yorkshire Police are now leading the investigation, working in conjunction with the Army. In a statement, the Army confirmed L/Cpl Rudd was reported missing on 1 March 2026, adding, “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 Rudds are appealing for anyone in Selby who might have information from the night of 15 February to come forward, hoping even the “slightest little thing” could aid the police's efforts.
