Army's Two-Week Delay in Reporting Missing Soldier May Have Cost His Life, Parents Say
The furious parents of a missing soldier fear that the army's failure to notice his absence for two weeks may have cost their son his life. Ryan Rudd, a 28-year-old lance corporal, disappeared in the early hours of February 15 after failing to return to his barracks at Catterick Garrison following a night out at a pub in Selby, North Yorkshire.
Critical Delay in Reporting
However, he was not reported missing until March 1, when a senior officer called his parents, Ken and Kerstin Rudd from Pocklington in East Yorkshire, to ask if he was at home. Mr and Mrs Rudd told the officer they assumed Ryan was on the camp as normal, and it was only after the officer confirmed he definitely was not at the barracks that the police were contacted.
Ryan's parents believe that this two-week gap in reporting their son missing might have severely hindered any chance of finding him. Mr Rudd, a former soldier himself, said: 'For missing those two weeks and not knowing where he was, this has potentially cost my son his life.' While Mrs Rudd voiced her concern that the delay in the investigation might mean crucial evidence could have been 'washed away'.
Investigation Details and Parental Concerns
North Yorkshire Police and the Army both currently have ongoing investigations into the disappearance. On the night of his disappearance, Ryan had been with a friend at a pub in Selby. The pair were separated when Ryan stayed behind to finish his drink. They had agreed to meet in another pub, but Ryan was refused entry.
Mrs Rudd told BBC News that it is her understanding that the friend was on a course for two weeks, and she presumes he went from Selby there. 'We don't know if he contacted anyone to say he hadn't had any contact with Ryan,' she said.
Mr Rudd claimed there was a nominal roll call and an electronic roll call on the base. He continued: '[The army] are meant to cross reference to see if they are on a course, not on a course, or where they are. They should know where each soldier is, and he didn't get cross-checked two Mondays in a row.' The father added that the delay in reporting his son missing had put the police in an 'unfortunate situation' and that he was 'furious with the army for not knowing Ryan had not returned to base.'
Ongoing Search and Official Statements
Ryan has now been missing for nearly two months, but his parents remain hopeful that someone in Selby might have vital information. North Yorkshire Police have released the last known CCTV of Ryan taken on the night he vanished. The couple have previously stated that their son would not have voluntarily disappeared, adding it would be 'out of character'. It is their belief that something happened that night, but they 'don't know if it was an accident or if it was something more sinister, because there's nothing to show what happened'.
North Yorkshire Police have previously said officers remained 'open minded' about his disappearance but added 'we must accept the possibility that Ryan has entered the River Ouse'. In a statement to the BBC, the Army said: 'We can confirm that Lance Corporal 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. We are unable to offer further detail at this time.'
Inspector Ciaran Conlon from North Yorkshire Police said: 'This is an extremely difficult time for Ryan's family, and they are currently receiving support from specialist officers. As with any investigation, we remain open minded and will continue to explore all lines of enquiry, but we must accept the possibility that Ryan has entered the River Ouse. If you do have any information which can help with the search then please call us 101. Any immediate sightings should be reported to 999.'
