Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The parents of Lance Corporal Ryan Rudd have expressed their distress over the fact that the Army did not realize he was absent from his base for two weeks, which they believe may have critically affected the chances of locating him. Ryan, aged 28, was last seen in the early hours of 15 February while out at the New Inn in Selby. He failed to return to his barracks at Catterick Garrison, but his parents, Ken and Kerstin Rudd from Pocklington, were only informed on 1 March, when a senior Army officer contacted them to ask if Ryan was at home.
Ken and Kerstin described their shock on discovering that the military had not noticed Ryan’s absence during the two-week period. They conveyed that this delay significantly hindered the police investigation. Kerstin said, “The fact that nobody had noticed he was missing for two weeks. It was shocking, we couldn’t believe it was happening.” Shortly after receiving the initial call, the Army confirmed that Ryan was not on camp and informed the family they were involving the police. The Army has confirmed it is conducting an internal investigation and is cooperating with North Yorkshire Police, who are leading the search.
Ken, a former soldier himself, explained that the base operates both a nominal and electronic roll call system which should be used to cross-check soldiers’ whereabouts, such as whether they are attending courses or on base. He stated, “They are meant to cross reference to see if they are on a course, not on a course, or where they are.” The failure to notice Ryan missing on two consecutive roll calls meant that police were effectively two weeks behind in their search efforts. The couple expressed concern that evidence relating to what happened to Ryan on the night of his disappearance may have been lost due to the delay, with Kerstin noting that any trace might have been “washed away with the rain or whatever.”
Ryan was reportedly with a friend from another unit on the night he went missing, and the two separated when Ryan went to finish a drink. The Rudds learned that his friend left for a two-week course shortly after, and they are unaware if he attempted to contact Ryan during that time. Both Ken and Kerstin hope that by speaking out, memories might be triggered that could assist the police. Kerstin urged anyone in Selby at the time who might have information to come forward, saying, “The slightest little thing might help the police find out what happened.”
The family firmly believe that Ryan would not have disappeared voluntarily, describing it as out of character for their son. Ken remarked, “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.” Kerstin added that Ryan had no reason to run away and was happy in the Army. However, they remain uncertain about the circumstances surrounding that night, stating, “We think something happened that night and we 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 stated that their investigation remains open-minded but acknowledged that it is necessary to consider the possibility that Ryan may have entered the nearby River Ouse. The Army issued a statement confirming that Ryan was reported missing on 1 March 2026 and that an investigation is ongoing in cooperation with the police, though they could not provide further details at this time
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.