Joshua Kannin, 39, has been charged with three counts of child neglect resulting in death after his three children tragically perished in a fire at their apartment in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on November 27, 2025. Kannin’s children, 10-year-old Rylee, 9-year-old Connor, and 7-year-old Alena, died in the blaze after their father allegedly fled the scene, leaving them behind.
The Tragic Incident
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the tragic events unfolded when Kannin and his children went to bed at around 9 p.m. on the night of the fire. Kannin later woke up and went downstairs, where he noticed a “little fire” in the kitchen. Panicking, he ran to his neighbor’s apartment to seek help, believing his children were still inside the apartment.
When firefighters and police arrived at the scene around 10:30 p.m., the apartment was “fully engulfed” in flames. Kannin reportedly ran to the first responders to tell them his children were still inside. According to the complaint, after initially going to the neighbor’s apartment, Kannin returned to the building and heard his children inside. He said he attempted to re-enter but was forced to retreat because of the thick smoke.
Evidence of Neglect
Authorities believe the fire may have started when the two boys, Connor and Rylee, were attempting to make noodles on the stove while their father was asleep upstairs. One of the burners was found in the “on” position, and several items—including packs of donuts, a toaster, napkins, and his work bag—were left on the stove, which could have caught fire.
Kannin also admitted to disabling the smoke alarms in the apartment, claiming they were malfunctioning and going off randomly, which he found to be “an annoyance.” Additionally, he reportedly smoked inside the apartment, violating property rules, and had boarded up the windows to prevent burglaries. The presence of these items and actions led authorities to believe that neglect on Kannin’s part may have contributed to the deadly outcome.
Mother’s Statements and the Aftermath
Jourdan Feasby, the mother of the children, had dropped them off to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their father. In a statement to police, Feasby described Kannin’s apartment as “absolutely disgusting,” and said the children were expected to “fend for themselves” when it came to food. In an interview with People, Feasby said she spoke to Kannin at the hospital while he was being treated for smoke inhalation. She reportedly asked him, “You wouldn’t grab the kids first?”
Following the fire, GoFundMe campaigns were launched to help cover funeral expenses for the three children. The Kenosha Fire Department later clarified that there was no evidence to suggest Kannin intentionally caused the fire, either through malicious or accidental actions.
Legal Proceedings
Kannin was charged with three felony counts of child neglect causing death. His first court appearance is scheduled for May 14, 2026. As of Thursday, he had not appeared on any jail rosters. The charges reflect the severity of the tragedy and the alleged neglectful actions that led to the loss of three young lives.
The case has drawn widespread attention to issues of neglect and responsibility in the home, and the community has rallied around the memory of the children who lost their lives.
